The First Unitarian Fellowship church hosts a 27-bed shelter nightly, which has helped hundreds into more stable housing. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

15 years

‘The idea is to create stability:’ Nanaimo Unitarian Shelter fundraising for much-needed upgrades

Dec 2, 2023 | 7:53 AM

NANAIMO — A small group making a big impact in the community is looking for a little help.

The Nanaimo Unitarian Shelter is holding a 15th birthday celebration and fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 2 between 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. at 595 Townsite Rd., celebrating not only everything they’ve achieved but what they’re hoping to do moving forward.

Paul Manly, executive director of the shelter, told NanaimoNewsNOW hundreds of people have used the facility as a transition out of trouble and into increased stability.

“We’re seeing a lot more seniors these days showing up at our door but also people with disabilities, people working poor and people with mental health and addictions challenges. It’s a broad spectrum of people who use the shelter.”

The 27-bed operation was formally opened in 2009 by the First Unitarian Fellowship after the Elks Club left the Townsite Rd. location.

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Constructed in 1946, the building which serves as home to the operation does not currently meet some parts of the B.C. building code, and work must be done.

A fundraising campaign hopes to raise $150,000 for not only repairs but also the shelter’s supportive programming.

Manly said 29 people have gone through programming at the shelter in the last year, by staying for a short time on-site, and then working with staff and volunteers to find more permanent housing.

“The idea is to create stability for people, get them through the process. We do vulnerability assessments which is part of the process with BC Housing to get them into supportive housing, then just…help them to get the resources they need to get them into homes for themselves.”

He added an increasing number of the shelter’s clients are seniors.

In many cases, they’re individuals who have just fallen on hard times and lack the family or social support required to navigate through those tough times.

“They’re seniors who had never been homeless before, don’t have problems with addiction, mental health or any of those kind of things that are the stereotypes people have about who is homeless in the community. They just happen to be unfortunate enough to be renting and living on a low, fixed-income pension.”

Many are also living in their cars, an increasing trend not only in Nanaimo but throughout the province.

Donations to the shelter can be made at the event Saturday, or online through their Canada Helps account.

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