By Dominic Abassi

City’s safety committee calls for focus on housing, modular homes

Nov 19, 2017 | 8:55 PM

NANAIMO — With more than $200 million of provincial government money up for grabs, the City committee responsible for community safety is calling for a focus on new housing in Nanaimo.

The City’s Public Safety Committee recommended to Council that staff start work on creating more supported housing, such as modular homes on City land. The recommendation followed a staff report which outlined supported housing as a high priority in finding a solution to persistent social and public safety issues.

Coun. Sheryl Armstrong, chair of the committee, said staff provided about a dozen options to address health, social, safety and security issues. The committee narrowed it down to their top two, with staff identifying the modular housing option as most feasible.

“This was one that staff felt was doable in a short time frame and the fact there’s money available from their perspective is a no-brainer,” Armstrong told NanaimoNewsNOW. “If we can get (provincial money) we’re one step ahead of the game. If we don’t access that money then the City is going to have to keep searching or find some internal revenue sources.”

In September, the provincial government announced $291 million for 2,000 modular housing units around B.C. to address homelessness. Another $208 million was dedicated to affordable rental housing units. Since then, projects have been announced in communities like Vancouver, Smithers and Vernon.

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“The modular units will be staffed 24/7 by non-profit housing providers and will include support services to help people in need stabilize and rebuild their lives,” a government news release said.

In June, City social planner John Horn told NanaimoNewsNOW the local homeless population increased substantially in the last year. Horn said the group of anywhere from 30 to 150 people was driving heightened anxiety, especially in the downtown core.

A November staff report found downtown business owners and residents are concerned about personal safety, cleanliness, open drug use, problematic public spaces and “congregations of users accompanied by aggressive and intimidating behaviours directed at shoppers, merchants, residents, and tourists.”

The City took some short term steps to address the situation, including increased patrols by RCMP and hired security.

Jim Spinelli, executive director of Nanaimo Affordable Housing, said while his society isn’t looking at any modular housing projects, it is a “good alternative” for the City to explore. He said while there’s a good chance the City can get a commitment of funding from the province, he expected every other municipality in B.C. is also putting in requests.

The Public Safety Committee’s recommendation is listed as an agenda item for the Nov. 20 Council meeting. Armstrong expected to hear a progress report from staff at their next committee meeting in December.

The City said staff couldn’t provide more details until after the issue comes before council.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi