More hope and companionship seen at Nanaimo homeless shelter
NANAIMO — There were new faces and a more optimistic tone among the 30 beds at Nanaimo’s extreme weather shelter this year.
Despite the rough day-to-day life of living on the streets or not having a stable place to sleep, shelter executive director Kevan Griffith said the mood shifted in a positive direction.
“I noticed there was a little more camaraderie this year. More like survivors in a life raft,” he told NanaimoNewsNOW.
Griffith said it’s likely due to shifting demographics at the shelter. There were many new faces among the roughly 200 distinct users who visited the shelter 4,500 times between November and early April, the highest number since the shelter first opened the doors nine years ago. Many staying overnight had the skills and abilities to survive, reach out and help others.