A City of Nanaimo task force has recommended city staff continue the course of asking for provincial money which likely isn't coming. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

kicking the can

Available treatment beds remain unfunded, City staff to continue seeking provincial funding

Feb 24, 2020 | 7:08 AM

NANAIMO — Five open and available treatment beds will remain unused for the near future after a City of Nanaimo task force passed on funding the service.

The decision to provide $70,500 in one-time funding to the Nanaimo region of the John Howard Society was first deferred by council down to the health and housing task force back in early Sept. 2019.

The health and housing task force decided on Wednesday. Feb. 19 to not recommend Council fund the beds but instead continue to ask the province for assistance.

Such funding is a provincial responsibility, but coun. Erin Hemmens on the task force said she’s not “hanging her hat” on the province coming through with the money.

“The minister of mental health and addictions, if they had the funding they might have funded it right away. But they’re pulled in as many directions we are. I absolutely see the need for these five beds but I think in the absence of having a clear strategy, it would be pre-emptive of us to spend money.”

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Lisa Bhopalsingh, manager of community and cultural planning, said they’ve broached the topic of the unfunded beds with the ministry.

“Right now we haven’t had a no, we’ve had a ‘we’re looking into it.'”

The beds were first brought up to the minister six months ago on Aug. 22, 2019 in an effort to secure more long-term funding.

A staff report on the issue said there’s a significant waitlist for the treatment beds and additional support would be utilized immediately.

Despite the issue of treatment beds being deferred down to the health and housing task force, task force member Jason Harrison with the mid island branch of Canadian Mental Health Association said the issue is “too micro” for the task force.

The motion from the task force to council will be to stay the course and continue asking the province for funding which task force members admit likely won’t arrive.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit