New flooring, improved air flow and air quality, as well as other enhancements came about through $300,000 in fundraising for the Nanaimo Unitarian Shelter on Townsite Rd. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

LONG LASTING LEGACY

Renovations help secure long-term future for Nanaimo Unitarian Shelter

Jul 13, 2024 | 6:16 AM

NANAIMO — Considerable surface and structural improvements to an aging building on Townsite Rd. is helping ensure a valuable shelter service will remain for years to come.

Around $300,000 was fundraised for structural and equipment upgrades at the Unitarian Shelter in Nanaimo, as it transitioned under the umbrella of Nanaimo Family Life Association at the start of July.

New director of shelters and guest services at NFLA Erika Gagnon told NanaimoNewsNOW upgrades included some newly constructed side rooms as well as key safety features, all of which will be publicly unveiled at an event on Saturday, July 13 beginning at 10:30 a.m.

“We have a huge air exchange unit, which is so important for the health and safety of not only our guests, but our staff as well. It just makes such a difference. We’ve installed a shower, which is a really big deal again, for our staff to be able to offer that as a service.”

New flooring, a dedicated laundry and office space round out the site underneath the Unitarian Church.

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Gagnon said it makes for a much safer environment for staff, as well as those in precarious situations on Nanaimo’s streets.

The shelter has capacity for 25 people every night, plus additional beds on short-notice, short-term situation.

“We do also have newly two, what we’re calling emergency beds, and those are for other services, whether that be the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital…or the COR (Community Outreach Response) teams…anyone like that can call and say, ‘hey, I’ve got someone, they just need a bed for one or two nights until they’re going to their next place, can we maybe access that bed?’”

A new washroom is a major addition for the shelter, able to help the health and safety for guests and staff. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Even with the renovations, 27 beds is the absolute limit for the shelter, along with the two staff members on site overnight plus one person making meals in the kitchen.

A small number of bunk beds are installed at the site, but Gagnon said it’s not feasible to add more just to get numbers up.

“Bunk beds definitely would provide a line of sight issue for our workers, we need to be able to see straight across the room, and so we have put bunk beds where we safely can along the walls to kind of maximize our space.”

Residents, once registered at the shelter, can stay for 90 days with roughly 80 per cent then able to access more stable housing through NFLA staff and connected programs.

For the remaining 20 per cent, they must be away for a minimum of 30 days before returning for another stay.

Gagnon said the program is immensely successful.

“A lot of people move into what’s called transitional housing. So those people often come back just to check in with us, say hello, see how we’re doing. What they like to do is let us know how well they’re doing, because we do become like their support system, their family.”

Bunk beds are placed along one wall, however additional ones would cause line of sight issues for staff. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Being a good, positive neighbour to the surrounding homes is of utmost importance for the shelter, according to Gagnon.

She said their rules and proactive work has meant complaints are few and far between.

During a site visit by NanaimoNewsNOW on Thursday, July 11, one neighbour arrived unannounced and asked if the shelter needed anything ahead of their grand unveiling on Saturday, something which Gagnon said after happens a lot.

“We are closed to guests from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., so there is no one here during the day, which really helps us keep our low footprint on the neighbourhood, because we do have a school across the street. We are in a residential neighbourhood, and that’s kind of the key to our success.”

Operating under the banner of the Unitarian Fellowship Church since 2009, NFLA assumed control of the facility in a bid to create a more seamless connection between the shelter and available supports and services.

Gagnon praised outgoing executive director Paul Manly for his tireless work in fundraising and helping secure the shelter’s future, as well as the Unitarian Church for their continued role in hosting the facility.

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