Homelessness is rising in Nanaimo, which has left the city to determine the best course of action to combat the outdoor elements during the summer months.
The Strengthening Community Program says they are looking to provide those who are less privileged with access to water, sunscreen, and shade. But with limited amounts of funds, it raises the question of how it will be delivered.
Mayor Leonard Krog says the city wants to take care of its citizens, so they don’t have to suffer, especially with the severe weather happening across the country.
“We want to ensure we have plans in place so if there is a real heat spell, we have cooling shelters set up for people to use,” Krog says. “We want to make sure we are responsive as much as we can.
“We hope not to run into a crisis, but if we do the city is prepared.”
He says having a plan in place will go a long way to ensure the population is protected but it isn’t just a localized issue.
“As long as we have a significant unhoused population, which is true across Canada, it is the government’s responsibility to have a plan in place for the extremes we are having,” he says.
Krog estimates the homeless population is as high as 1,000, but there could be more people in Nanaimo. Krog says that is why having emergency shelters is part of their emergency plan.
“The number doesn’t take into account those who are periodically homeless or those who are couch surfing not just homeless on the streets,” he says.
According to a city council meeting on June 19 money was handed to the Strengthening our Community Program on two occasions. In 2021, the program received $2.5 million and then in 2022, they received $625,000 which was used to support the unhoused and unsheltered population.
According to the presentation put on by the organization, only $35,000 remains for heat and relief services, but Krog says the city will continue to advocate for people who need assistance, and that position will not change.
“The city will continue to lobby the problem for funding appropriately for this,” he says. “This is literally a province-wide problem, it is not a city problem, but will do what is necessary in the time of crisis.”
The Strengthen Community Program is a shared funding program provided by the government of Canada, and the province of B.C. in response to the pandemic which supports unsheltered populations and related community impacts.
