By Spencer Sterritt

More security, stricter access installed at Terminal Ave. supportive housing

Jan 16, 2019 | 8:18 AM

NANAIMO — Housing operators are hopeful the challenges of running an 80 unit temporary supportive housing project will be addressed by upcoming changes to the site.

Instead of a gate at 250 Terminal Ave, home to roughly 80 former residents of downtown Nanaimo’s tent city, there will be an office where people check in and out.

Violet Hayes, executive director of the housing operator Island Crisis Care Society, told NanaimoNewsNOW the office will be the only access to the housing development.

“Everyone coming in and out would be checking in with a staff member. I think that will really help us get a handle on what’s happening, along with better security around the site,” Hayes told NanaimoNewsNOW.

She was reached for comment the day after Nanaimo’s mayor and several councillors criticized the housing development and how it was rolled out into the community.

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“It has not turned out the way I had hoped or expected,” mayor Leonard Krog told a gallery of neighbourhood residents opposed to the supportive housing project. He called the provincial response to the brewing crisis at the now-closed tent city “clumsily-handled to say the least. And unfortunately, the victims are many.”

Hayes acknowledged building and opening an 80 unit temporary supportive housing development in only a few months hasn’t been easy, with some construction still remaining. Currently exterior doors don’t have locks and the fence surrounding the complex is often breached.

“We haven’t seen huge issues with residents, but the challenges are with those coming from outside, recognizing there’s still so many homeless in Nanaimo,” Hayes said.

“We have a no guest policy right now but that’s not being followed because they’re coming over or under the fence, or pushing through the gate. That’s the challenge.”

During Monday’s council meeting, mayor Krog said it was his understanding criminal activity was happening at 250 Terminal Ave. and residents weren’t being removed for breaking their tenancy contracts.

Hayes confirmed no one has been removed from 250 Terminal Ave.

“We’re very open to doing that if it’s necessary. We’re working closely with the RCMP if there’s any issues which would require that, but we haven’t had to do that yet.”

The supportive housing development was contentious the moment it was announced by the provincial government. Within weeks a legal challenge was started in the courts and neighbourhood committees sprung up to defend what they saw as their peaceful part of Nanaimo.

While agreeing there are challenges and obstacles to be overcome at 250 Terminal Ave., Hayes urged the community to not only focus on the negative.

“There’s good things happening. We can see so much more as we move forward and get everything up and running as it should be. We have responded to this emergency to help the community and we really do want to see it succeed and do the best we can.”

Hayes pointed to several examples of supportive housing residents who were entering addictions treatment or had found jobs since their life became more stable by moving in to 250 Terminal Ave.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit