Former Green Party MP Paul Manly was hoping for a third election win in as many years after flipping the riding in 2019, but lost to NDP member Lisa Marie Barron in Sept. 2021 (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

years of experience

Former Green MP Paul Manly hired to run homeless shelter

Mar 28, 2022 | 1:04 PM

NANAIMO — With years of relevant experience under his belt, the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo hired a familiar face as the executive director of its emergency shelter.

Manly, the Green MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith from 2019-2021, said his first priority is to ensure the organization continues to run smoothly and effectively.

“We’re seeing the victims of this affordability crisis right across the county, but it’s especially acute in Nanaimo where we have a large population growth and not enough housing to go around for people who are living on low-income, on fixed-incomes, working low-wage jobs.”

He’s excited he can now use this new position to advocate for people who are struggling to find affordable accommodations in our community.

Manly said being able to afford life in Nanaimo has become increasingly difficult in the last 5-20 years, and it’s “not an acceptable situation”.

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“We have the visible homeless population here in the community, the ones we see on the streets, then we have the ones living in cars, couch surfing, going from friend to friend to relative to relative, people living in cap sites, and people who are living in the bush,” Manly told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Chair of the shelter management team Ron Wilson said this announcement is great news for the shelter and its guests.

“We know that with Paul’s passion, dedication and skills, we will continue the tradition of excellent leadership established by our previous executive directors.”

Manly was also a program coordinator for Nanaimo Foodshare, working with youth facing barriers to employment to give them skills training and experience. He also created and coordinated the Cultivating Abilities employment skills training and work experience program for people with diverse abilities.

The Nanaimo Unitarian Shelter provides emergency shelter to adults at 595 Townsite Rd. between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m., seven days a week.

The organization also operates a free shower program at Caledonia Park, at 110 Wall St.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow