Kevan Griffith has a lot to say about how people with addictions can turn their lives around and how society can better support them. (Ian Holmes/NanaiomNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

hard work

Longtime Nanaimo shelter operator reflects on career, offers insight on serving the vulnerable

Apr 3, 2022 | 6:08 AM

NANAIMO — Speaking up about battling addiction lights his eyes up with hope as opposed to pain.

He knows the devastation addiction has on families and communities — he lived it and provided guidance to help people battling demons he’s all too familiar with forge a brighter future.

Kevan Griffith retired as operator of the year-round emergency shelter at First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo on Townsite Rd. last November.

He began leading Unitarian Shelter in 2009, a year after the then seasonal 24 bed venue for the homeless opened.

Griffith remembers many people in the community questioning the shelter’s location, placed directly across the street from Brechin Elementary School.

rising costs

RDN taxpayers want relief as board grapples with budget

4h ago

new mayor

Spring Mayoral by-election called in Ladysmith

17h ago

holiday check stops

Nanaimo motorists shine during province-wide crackdown

20h ago

“When we first opened the principal at the school told me that they have less problems with us being open because there is somebody around all night.”

Escalating demand led to securing the necessary funds to become a year-round operation in 2018.

The 24 bed shelter has been consistently full in recent years, Griffith said.

“You don’t see people giving up their beds to party for a couple of days. They are nervous that they’re not going to get back in. Especially at the Unitarian, it’s open earlier, it’s year-round.”

Griffith was able to connect with clients on a different level.

Everybody in Griffith’s life was impacted by his alcohol abuse. He managed to get clean in 2007, following years of ignoring childhood trauma and alienating his family.

“I went to five treatment centres. The last one was the shortest and the cheapest one and I got clean.”

Armed with several social certificates and lived experience, Griffith applied his knowledge to help others.

Obtaining sobriety doesn’t require a flashy $50,000 residential treatment centre, but rather the will of an addict to want to change as opposed to being told to, he said.

“Addiction is a disease of excuses, ‘I can’t because, I can’t because, I can’t because.’ So we need to turn it around to ‘I can because.’”

While Griffith said there are more resources than ever on the streets geared toward the homeless, addicted and mentally ill, he said more and readily available detox and treatment beds are required.

He said people with serious mental health ailments are brushed aside far too often and forced to fend for themselves.

“The sad part is a lot of the extreme mental health cases don’t get any help until they go to jail, then they can get them stabilized and back on their meds.”

As for the future, Griffith may return as shelter operator of the winter emergency shelter at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church for a third year.

A fourth winter just wrapped up for the Machleary St. facility.

Griffith is looking forward to some down time, including fishing a long list of lakes around Vancouver Island.

While enjoying some down time is a priority, the energetic Griffith is looking to continue helping the needy.

“I’m looking into starting a head lice removal program for the homeless here in town, it’s a problem that’s not being properly addressed.”

Former Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Paul Manly was recently named the executive director of the Unitarian Shelter.

The shelter also operates a shower program at nearby Caledonia Park on Wall St.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes