The number of people lining up each day from Monday to Friday for a free shower is growing rapidly. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

valuable service

Use of free shower program soars during COVID-19 pandemic

Apr 9, 2020 | 7:34 AM

NANAIMO — The lineup outside a shower facility in a Nanaimo park is growing by the day.

The program, run by the Unitarian Shelter at Caledonia Park and funded by the City of Nanaimo, is the only way for those experiencing homelessness or tough times to get a shower.

With gyms closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kevan Griffith with the Unitarian Shelter said the number and type of people using the showers is growing.

“We’re already almost at 80 people this month and we’re only open Monday to Friday,” Griffith told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Before the pandemic, the shower program helped roughly 10 people a day. It’s now up to 17 and Griffith expected the number to only rise.

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It’s quite an eclectic group we have down there _{Kevan Griffith}

“We’ve got a lot of people living in their vehicles who pop down for a shower. Some were working, some are working, some are just living rough. We’ve got people showing up in BMW’s and others rolling in on their bikes.”

The number of people unfortunately turned away each night at the Unitarian Shelter is also growing.

The number of beds was reduced to 24 from 30 in order to create more space between clients in need of a bed.

Griffith said there’s an understandable sense of unease and anxiety among many at the shelter, who get their news secondhand through Facebook.

“I’m updating people each day at the shelter about what’s going on in the rest of the community and the country, to give them a better idea of where we’re at. It seems to soothe them a bit to know we’re doing okay and holding our own.”

New services are being rolled out to help those experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City of Nanaimo is working to install port-a-potties and hand sanitizing stations at three sites in the downtown core.

City staff also forwarded a list to the province of more than 10 locations which could be used by the province to accomodate the homeless.

The province and BC Housing have already secured roughly 900 rooms at 23 locations across B.C. to those experiencing homelessness who are at risk of contracting or have already contracted COVID-19.

Victoria is the only Vancouver Island city to have secured sites.

BC Housing said on Tuesday, April 7 it’s “in discussions with the City of Nanaimo about city-owned properties that could be appropriate to bring people indoors.” They’re also currently negotiating with local private hotel owners.

Recently published data from the 2020 point-in-time homelessness count showed upwards of 425 are considered unsheltered in Nanaimo.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit