Sarah Cubbage (left) and a colleague from the mobile youth outreach program ventured deep into the bush each day to hand out supplies and food to those in need. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

crisis

Outreach team building trust with Nanaimo’s homeless youth

Dec 11, 2020 | 6:03 AM

NANAIMO — A mobile outreach team is creating lasting connections with homeless youth desperate for supplies and comfort.

The number of youth interacting with the mobile outreach program from the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre doubled from October to November.

Sarah Cubbage said the large increase, from 28 individual youth to 57 by the end of November, is due to their consistency.

“It’s a leap of faith coming to an RV,” she told NanaimoNewsNOW when set up at Bowen Park’s lower parking lot on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

“There have been a lot of different programs that have started and disappeared. They needed to see we’re actually the real thing and it’s going to continue.”

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Cubbage and the outreach team used to spend their morning at Bowen Park, much of the afternoon at the closed Nanaimo Casino and finish out the day at Wesley St.

Since Wesley St. was shut down and upwards of 60 people experiencing homelessness were displaced, Cubbage said they’re spending more time at Bowen Park.

On Wednesday, they helped many people at their RV by handing out food, harm reduction supplies and shoes.

They then walked through Bowen Park and handed out supplies directly to campers. Many were buried deep in the forest around the Millstone River in an effort to avoid City of Nanaimo bylaw officers.

Several campers had sheltered under the pavilion at Bowen Park to get out of the rain.

The shelter was fenced off Wednesday afternoon as Cubbage toured the area.

“What we’re seeing in Nanaimo now shows a giant deficit of social services and supporters,” Cubbage said.

“There needs to be more funding. Our program is done at the end of March. Hopefully it’s extended. We know youth homelessness isn’t going to be ended in that time. With more funding and available supports we can help more people.”

The homelessness crisis in Nanaimo extends far further than the roughly 60 displaced from Wesley St.

The most recent point-in-time homeless count in Nanaimo earlier in 2020 shows upwards of 600 people are experiencing homelessness in the harbour city.

Cubbage said they see around 100 adults when they venture to various hotspots in the city.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt