A new multi-bed housing project is proposed next to Dufferin Place on the Nanaimo Hospital grounds, designed as a home away from home for families. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

easing burdens

Accommodations planned in Nanaimo for families of sick children

May 27, 2022 | 5:22 AM

NANAIMO — Following successful projects elsewhere on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo is next in line for a facility to help stabilize families during their time in need.

Plans are in motion for group accommodations next to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, run by the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island (CHFVI).

Veronica Carroll, foundation chief executive officer, told NanaimoNewsNOW the facility, dubbed Jesse’s House, would be like a smaller version of Ronald McDonald house at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

“Families are travelling from mid and north Island to have their babies, to come into town for medical support, for any kind of clinical visits and they’re looking for accommodations close to the hospital so they can be close to their children receiving sometimes life-saving medical support.”

Envisioned is a multi-bedroom inclusive space for patients and their families located near medical facilities. Amenities such as a kitchen, cultural space, multi-purpose activity rooms, patio and playground are anticipated.

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An image supplied by CHFVI showed Jesse’s House is intended to encompass most of an existing parking lot between Dufferin Place and Kiwanis Lodge on the east side of the NRGH property.

“Jesse’s House” is proposed to sit on Nanaimo hospital land, in between the public health building and Dufferin Place. (Google Maps)

“Based on testimonials and impacts for families, we really appreciate and hear first hand the impact that just having that accommodation so close to the hospital really means for families when they’re seeking support for their kids,” Carroll said.

It would be the third such facility run by the Foundation on Vancouver Island.

The 10 bedrooms and common spaces at Jeneece Place on the grounds of Victoria General Hospital have seen over 2,500 families stay since opening in 2012.

Campbell River’s Q̓ᵂalayu House opened in July 2021 and has already had 34 babies born to families staying at the facility.

Carroll said the project is in the very early stages with discussions on land use still underway with Island Health and public consultation in central and north Island communities helping shape what the facility will be.

Fundraising will also be a big hurdle to move past.

“Right now we don’t even know basically how big the building will be so it’s pretty hard to go out into the community and give an estimate as to how much money we need, but we’re going to get there and I have every confidence,” Carroll said.

Families are asked to pay $25 a night for their stay, however, the cost to operate the facility is much more and is offset by the Foundation’s donors.

Carroll said families who can’t pay are not turned away.

“We’re not creating any financial barriers, there’s no means testing but we know families like to participate so when they can contribute what they can to their stay then they feel good and we’re able to make the dollars stretch even further.”

With so much still up in the air, there are no firm costs or timelines for project completion, however Carroll said she expected to be celebrating a grand opening in two or three years’ time.

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