Low numbers of those experiencing homelessness or insecure housing were placed into province-provided isolation spaces in Nanaimo. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

secured sites

Low number of Nanaimo’s housing insecure requiring hotel rooms

Jun 4, 2020 | 6:08 AM

NANAIMO – Less hotel rooms and housing sites than anticipated were needed in Nanaimo to provide shelter to the city’s vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BC Housing confirmed to NanaimoNewsNOW 33 housing spaces were secured at three Nanaimo hotels, with the first coming online April 8. The second hotel began being utilized on April 23 and the third on April 30.

Negotiations were recently underway to secure an additional 40, but a statement from BC Housing said it wasn’t needed due to available capacity at other sites.

Due to privacy concerns, BC Housing doesn’t disclose which hotels are being used.

Medical health officer Dr. Paul Hasselback said creating a network of available spaces was similar to the health ministry’s efforts to provide available hospital beds during the pandemic.

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“Just as our capacity in our hospitals wasn’t as required because of all the interventions implemented…we haven’t needed to the same extent to bring people who are housing insecure into isolation types of settings.”

Hasselback couldn’t say how many people required hotel rooms to isolate beyond it being a “low number.”

“In most instances, it was individuals who had developed symptoms that required short-term isolation while testing was undertaken.”

An additional 36 spaces are expected to come online in June at the Community Services Building on Prideux St. The space will be operated by Island Crisis Care Society.

Hasselback said he was heartened to see organizations and residents come together to help those living rough who were at a significant risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.

“Fortunately we didn’t need to use it that much but we know what we need to do. We have established network supports and approaches that will carry us forward for what we’re going to see in the future.”

With COVID-19 expected to return later in 2020 during regular flu season, Hasselback said important groundwork was laid to handle a resurgence of cases.

Ultimately, Hasselback said the pandemic “unmasked the ongoing challenges of the housing insecure population within the community and how do we appropriately provide such housing going forward.”

There are 127 active or resolved COVID-19 cases across Vancouver Island, with the last new case confirmed on May 7.

Five people passed away and 121 recovered, with the Island’s lone case remaining in hospital.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit