A winter shelter will be in operation at St. Peters Roman Catholic Church for a fifth consecutive year. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

winter shelter

Winter shelter opens in Nanaimo as temperature plummets

Nov 9, 2022 | 6:23 AM

NANAIMO — With overnight temperatures dipping below the freezing mark, a local seasonal shelter providing comfort for the unhoused has opened its doors.

St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church on Machleary St. is once again home to a cold weather shelter seven days a week for adults, with an earlier opening of 8 p.m. and closing at 7:30 a.m.

The shelter opened on Monday, Nov. 7 with 20 of the 25 multi-gender beds spoken for, according to Nanaimo Family Life Association (NFLA) executive director Deborah Hollins. She said shelter space is essential in Nanaimo.

“Winter shelter’s especially, they keep people safe, they keep people warm, they keep people nourished. This is a very important offering in the community.”

NFLA is entering its second year operating the shelter located in the church’s basement.

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Hollins said the space provides much more than a fully staffed venue, along with a bed and hot food.

“That includes counseling and support services and questions around accessing housing, being able to make other referrals to them to other agencies in our community that can also help them navigate this time in their lives.”

The shelter, funded by BC Housing, can be expanded to 31 beds if required.

There is an open line of communication between the community and the shelter, Hollins emphasized.

“There’s no drug-taking allowed or alcohol allowed on the property, we do our best that the property stays clean and free of those kinds of substances.”

The direct phone number to the St. Peter’s cold weather shelter is: 778-269-3212. It will remain open until March 31, 2023.

Several other shelters provide overnight stays for the unhoused in Nanaimo, including the year-round service at First Unitarian Church on Townsite Rd for adults.

BC Housing has an interactive map and list of all temporary and permanent shelters around the province.

There is no homeless shelter currently operating in the Oceanside region.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes