Politicians call for change on Salt Spring Island
Senior’s struggle with homelessness sheds light on area’s housing crisis
A 71-year-old woman, whose seven-year struggle with homelessness on Salt Spring Island was detailed in a story published Tuesday, has secured temporary accommodation with the help of a local non-profit.
Judith Wells would have resorted to sleeping in her car in a matter of days, after her friend received an eviction notice. She is one of many residents who have struggled to make ends meet in the midst of a housing crisis that has disproportionately affected the island.
Wells has now found accommodation on wheels, in a trailer, with the help of Copper Kettle, a community partnership focused on issues surrounding homelessness.
“All I had to do was phone an old friend and tell her about Judith,” said Cherie Geauvreau, who operates Copper Kettle with her partner. “She’s a really nice person, she’s quiet, and has sparkling references. About an hour later, they came to an agreement.”
Reached by phone, Wells said she feels supported, and remains on the waiting list for B.C. Housing.
“I’m not doing a happy dance yet, but I’ll get there,” Wells said. “They’ve really helped me and do a good job in helping others.”
Annual counts show Salt Spring Island has more people experiencing homelessness per capita than Victoria or Vancouver. The unincorporated island’s system of governance, divided between Islands Trust, the Capital Regional District and local water improvement districts, has been seen as a challenge in addressing housing needs.
Saanich North and the Islands MLA Adam Olsen said the system is fragmented, which reduces effectiveness in delivering services such as housing.
“It started as a problem and has now become much more acute as of last year, it’s quite shocking, actually,” Olsen said. “There are transitions that have to happen here.”
Olsen brokered a meeting between local politicians, B.C. Minister of Municipal Affairs Selina Robinson and B.C. Housing two weeks ago. The group asked for a provincial task force to study ways in which local governance can be improved.
“What I support is taking a look at the current governance structures that exist, and how they can be more effective and efficient,” he said. “The community decided (in a 2017 referendum) that they weren’t going to incorporate. But that doesn’t deal with the varying levels of frustrations that occur when we need to address housing for seniors, for example.”
Olsen said while the homelessness count has increased, the issues with housing have extended to working professionals.
“It is quickly escalating to a crisis when you hear of health-care professionals living in their car because they can’t find a place to live or that in-home care professionals ... are moving out of the community because they can’t afford a place. What we’re actually talking about here isn’t just the luxuries, this is affecting people in the community, that the community needs in order to function.”
“The provincial government made this model (of governance). Now we have to look at it and say, is it doing what we want it to do?”