The small cabins erected in Duncan were examined as a potential solution to Nanaimo's escalating homelessness problem. (Facebook/Cowichan Housing Association)

By Spencer Sterritt

small impact

City of Nanaimo takes exploratory steps for small-scale temporary housing

Apr 19, 2021 | 9:54 PM

NANAIMO – Councillors in Nanaimo want to replicate a successful temporary housing project from the Cowichan area.

Councillors accepted and debated at length a staff report about the project on Monday, April 19.

The Cowichan model includes up to 12 small cabins at two sites in the Cowichan Valley to house those living rough who can thrive in such an environment. It doesn’t intend to provide living quarters for those who are the hardest to house. It’s fully funded by BC Housing, which isn’t an option in Nanaimo’s case at this time.

Coun. Ben Geselbracht introduced a motion to proceed with such a project, saying the City needed to do something before another tent city sprung up.

“This is a very concrete action we can do, it’s been done on a very short notice in Duncan. This can be a demonstratable win in a sea of losses. We’re in an extreme homelessness, mental health and addictions crisis which will only worsen conditions for everyone.”

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His motion passed 5-4 along traditional council lines.

Numerous issues about bringing the project to Nanaimo were raised in a staff report and around the council table.

The three largest difficulties identified were a lack of locations picked for the temporary housing, not enough City staff to see the project through and a seeming lack of interest from Nanaimo organizations.

Roughly 10 Nanaimo organizations and service providers were reached out to by City staff about such a project. No formal responses were received.

Coun. Sheryl Armstrong said they can’t burden City staff with another project.

“We can’t keep pawning project after project on (City staff) because none get done and we don’t have the capacity. Island Health doesn’t have capacity either for supports, so what are we going to do with that because everyone going in there is going to need supports.”

Nanaimo fire chief Tim Doyle submitted a letter raising concerns about fire safety, while interim police chief Lisa Fletcher said the Nanaimo RCMP couldn’t rededicate resources to the area where the housing would go.

Rather than moving forward with a request for proposal, City staff will now work on a request for an expression of interest to see if an organization would take on the project once further details were determined.

John Horn, executive director of the Cowichan Housing Association and architect of the Cowichan model, told NanaimoNewsNOW the project wouldn’t have worked without collaboration.

He said organizations in Duncan took a “leap of faith” about the project and have supported it.

There’s currently an application from the Association to expand Duncan’s temporary cabin housing program to target those who are harder to house.

In Nanaimo, staff said work continues to secure an MOU between BC Housing and Island Health for a 60-unit navigation centre which is designed to accomodate those living rough on Nanaimo streets.

The project is already significantly delayed and no location has been found, which coun. Armstrong said was “concerning.”

It’s estimated up to 600 people are experiencing homelessness on Nanaimo streets, with thousands more on the brink of losing their homes.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt