New 51-unit supportive housing opening in Nanaimo

The 51-unit building will have 24/7 support, and offer meal programs, life and employment skills training, and health and wellness support. Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

People are getting ready to move into a new supportive housing building in Nanaimo.

Starting May 1, Cornerstone at 285 Prideaux Street will open its doors to those experiencing homelessness or at risk of it. 

This is the second supportive housing building to open after the City of Nanaimo and BC Housing signed a memorandum of understanding in 2020 for six new sites in the city. 

Each unit will have its own private washroom, shower and kitchenette with a full-size fridge. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

The 51-unit building will have 24/7 support, and offer meal programs, life and employment skills training, and health and wellness support. Each unit will have its own private washroom, shower and kitchenette with a full-size fridge. Four of the units will be wheelchair accessible.

CHLY took part in an early tour of the building before opening alongside MLA for Nanaimo Sheila Malcolmson and Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog.

Malcolmson said this project is many years in the making. She said this supportive housing model is intended to help people in need gain and retain housing.
“And that's completely what the supportive housing model is about. People that tend to cycle through evictions and homelessness, supportive housing offers that wrap around to be able to set them up for success,” Malcolmson said.

She said the provincial government has the responsibility to make sure there are other forms of affordable housing available as options for those who leave supportive housing.

Malcolmson said those who are currently residing at Newcastle Place at 250 Terminal Avenue will be able to move to Cornerstone, allowing Newcastle Place to open up to new residents.

“And I've heard from some of them, and they’ve been very public about–they see this as a real step up but they're also feeling a bit sad about leaving their friends and the community of support workers,” Malcolmson said.

Mayor Krog said the City of Nanaimo is grateful for the new building.

MLA for Nanaimo Sheila Malcolmson (left) and Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog (right) taking a look at Cornerstone’s new kitchen. Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

“It is an opportunity to stabilize, to move forward as Minister Malcolmson has pointed out, and to integrate back into the community. We have always tended throughout history to ghettoize certain populations in society, and that's not the way to build a community,” Krog said. “When people are able to live in neighbourhoods that may not have been the neighbourhood they came from, to live with and work with others, It just builds real community. It builds a better city.” 

Krog said the day is for reflection, celebration, and gratitude. 

“Imagine 51 People who are going to be living here safe and secure, not out there in the cold of the streets, not being pestered, or exploited by others who have taken advantage of them,” Krog said.

Cornerstone will be operated by the Nanaimo office of the Connective Supportive Society, formally known as the John Howard Society. Andrew Ferguson is the Executive Director of the society. He said Cornerstone will have a variety of health and safety services and supports onsite that are fit for each resident.

“So for everyone that comes in, our goal is to help them as fast and as healthy as they can and that's individualized,” Ferguson said. “So our goal and in particular with this space, with our flex room and with our supports, we want to be and remain adaptable to the changing needs of the people that live here. in whatever ways, we can best support them to have the best lives they can.”

He said there is no set limit for how long someone can stay at Cornerstone.

“There's no real term limit, we kind of recognize that every person has a different journey. And what that may look like in terms of timeline is going to look different depending on the person,” Ferguson said. “And it's really about being able to meet that person, where they're at, and help them get the place where they want to be.”

Marlo Renee Mayers is one of the new residents moving from Newcastle Place to Cornerstone on May 1. CHLY spoke with her after the tour. She said she has been at Newcastle Place for about three years, after living on the streets.

Mayers (pictured) is one of the new residents moving from Newcastle Place to Cornerstone. Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

“I've worked my entire life, you know, and my mom passed away. And that just pretty much broke me. So I started collecting cans and COVID hit and I started collecting them in my room,” Mayers said. “I had enough to pay my rent throughout the whole time. But the second landlord was able to kick me out.”

She said once she was able to get into Newcastle Place she ended up with two great social workers and got the health care and support she needed.

Mayers said she is very grateful for the work that has been done getting Cornerstone open but said there is more work that needs to be done. 

“You know, it's coming along, but there's still a long way to go. You know, there's so many people still out there,” Mayers said.

When asked where she would invest money instead of fences, she had the following to say.

“Into a properly run tent city. For safety reasons alone, you know, groups don't die together. Right? It's the people that are left alone that die. And I hate to say this, but the mayor has done us no good along the street, he may be doing something with this, but out there–if you want to invest, you want to invest in security fences and security companies. And that's a shame.” she said.

Mayers said that after moving into Cornerstone, her next steps are getting back to work in construction or counselling to help those still living on the streets.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.