By Dominic Abassi

Province commits 170 units of housing to Nanaimo, wants tent city eviction delayed

Oct 5, 2018 | 11:46 AM

NANAIMO — The province says 170 units of temporary housing is on the way to Nanaimo, but they’re calling on the City to delay the eviction of downtown’s massive homeless encampment.

Housing Minister Selina Robinson said the province purchased land at 250 Terminal Ave., where 80 units of “temporary workforce modular housing” will be installed. She said a further 90 units will be placed on land offered by the City inside the Public Works yard on Labieux Rd.

The units will include 24/7 “wraparound services” and supports and are specifically earmarked for people inside downtown Nanaimo’s Discontent City, the Minister said.

But Robinson said while the temporary housing is “on the way” to Nanaimo, it won’t be ready for people to move in until the end of November. The City has a Supreme Court of B.C. injunction order allowing them to remove people from the camp at 1 Port Dr. as of Oct. 12.

Robinson told NanaimoNewsNOW they’re asking the City to agree not to disperse the camp until the housing is ready.

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“Those people who are in the camp could pick up and go to another part of the city, they could just scatter to many different neighbourhoods and then it’s harder to identify people, provide them support and get them into housing,” she said. “It actually becomes more chaotic and less organized…All we need is four-to-six weeks to get the housing ready so we can move people over in a coordinated way.”

If the City agrees to delay eviction, Robinson said the province committed to sending increased security to monitor the camp and ensure it doesn’t grow any larger. Other services would also be provided to assess and assist with the needs of the inhabitants.

With the exception of RCMP and bylaw enforcement costs, the province will pay for all services and costs related to the camp remaining open, Robinson said, adding a total dollar figure for the incoming housing hasn’t been determined.

Robinson said there’s “no deal breaker” and the housing is on the way, no matter what the City decides.

“Any other approach would force the campers to scatter throughout the city while they’re waiting for housing…It’s not ideal for the residents of tent city or the people of Nanaimo as a whole.”

Robinson was asked why local residents were not consulted about the placement of the temporary housing or offered any chance to voice their opinions.

“We’re in a crisis situation…This is good for all of Nanaimo. If you scatter these suspected 300 campers then they’re going to go wherever they choose and they could, theoretically, setup the camp somewhere else in town and that’s not what anybody wants.”

Mayor Bill McKay said Friday’s announcement was “fantastic news.”

“This is desperately needed housing for not only the folks at tent city, but people who are scattered around the whole community.”

When asked if the City and Council would agree to the province’s plan to take a phased approach to the closure of Discontent City, McKay said that’s something they’ve always been looking at.

“We know this isn’t going to happen overnight. The fact is, we don’t want people scattering throughout the community any more than anyone else does. We want this to be structured and done right.”

In regards to concerns about a lack of consultation over the location of the temporary housing, McKay said this is a BC Housing initiative and the requirement to consult is on the province in this scenario.

“I work across the street from a low-barrier supportive housing unit and it’s pretty uneventful. I certainly don’t fear in anyway the fact that complex is there.”

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi