The B.C. government is providing $21,000 to allow the temporary winter shelter operated by the First Unitarian Fellowship in Nanaimo to remain open until the end of March.

The provincial funding builds on the approximately $29,000 that went to the organization this year to operate the Nanaimo shelter when the weather becomes hazardous to people on the street.

Since the provincially funded permanent shelters in Nanaimo have been operating at full capacity this winter, the B.C. government has approved this one-time grant to keep the shelter open every night until March 31, 2015.

The Province funds 10 permanent shelter beds at the Samaritan House, operated by Island Crisis Care Society and 23 beds at New Hope Shelter, operated by the Salvation Army. The total funding for those shelters is about $1.4 million.

Quote:

Rich Coleman, Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing -

“We are committed to working with our non-profit partners, local governments and businesses to ensure services are provided for people who are homeless, especially during the winter months. We are working with the Unitarian Fellowship to make sure no one is turned away, while we look at long term solutions in the community.”

Michelle Stilwell, MLA for Parksville-Qualicum, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation -

“I commend and thank the Unitarian Fellowship staff for the dedicated support they provide to shelter residents in our community. We work closely with our non-profit providers, and are pleased to provide this funding to keep the shelter operating nightly.”

Kevan Griffith, shelter coordinator, First Unitarian Fellowship  -

“Our group, supported by volunteers, is most appreciative of the grant which allows us to stay open each night until end of March. This means we can continue our important service to some of the people in Nanaimo who most need our help.”

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested $4 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors and families. This year, nearly 100,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial social housing programs and services.
• Last year, the Province invested over $7.8 million to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for more than 2,000 households in Nanaimo.
• Since 2008, Unitarian Fellowship has been responding to the needs of people who are homeless or are at-risk of homelessness by providing emergency shelter.

Learn More:

For more information on affordable housing programs and the province’s efforts to end homelessness in B.C., please visit: www.housingmattersbc.ca/factsheets.html and www.bchousing.org

Find out more about the Province’s housing investments on Vancouver Island: http://www.housingmattersbc.ca/docs/fs_Vancouver_Island_Region.pdf

For more information on the First Unitarian Fellowship Extreme Weather Shelter, visit: http://ufon.ca/weather-shelter/

Media Contacts:

Donna Cairns
BC Housing
604 439-4758