Nanaimo adds 30 shelter beds

More shelter beds have opened to serve Nanaimo’s street population as the city struggles to deal with a rising homeless population.

Thirty beds are now available at the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo’s 595 Townsite Rd. property.

The City of Nanaimo and B.C. Housing are helping to support the program, which will run until Oct. 31, when cold-weather shelter service traditionally opens up.

Summer shelter hours are 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Two meals will be served each day and social and support services are on offer as well. The Unitarian shelter also runs a shower program at Caledonia Park.

“The goal of these additional spaces is to provide a safe place to shelter overnight for all those members of our community that do not have a home to live in, including many of those currently residing in the tent city on Port Drive,” said Karen Fry, the city’s fire chief and director of public safety.

The growing tent city was established on city-owned land on May 17.

Citizens have raised concerns about crime and drug use related to campers there.

Tent city residents say they have nowhere else to go and that they feel safe there.

The Salvation Army’s New Hope Centre also offers 23 emergency shelter beds for men. The city’s homeless population is estimated at about 300.

Nanaimo issued a trespass notice to tent city residents in May, but they did not leave.

The city subsequently filed a petition asking the B.C. Supreme Court to rule on whether the campers should vacate or stay.

A two-day hearing has been scheduled for the week of July 16.