City of Powell River will be writing a letter of support for extended hours for the emergency shelter on Joyce Avenue.
At the January 17 committee of the whole meeting, Julie Jenkins, housing services manager, Lift Community Services, said Lift is addressing homelessness in the region and has operations at the emergency shelter at 4746 Joyce Avenue. She said her presentation included a request from the city to BC Housing to temporarily extend shelter hours.
“We’re seeing an increase in both street and hidden homelessness throughout qathet this year,” said Jenkins. “We estimate there are at least 60 individuals experiencing street homelessness in the community. Some of those folks are in and out of the shelter and in and out of couch surfing. There’s many more at risk.
“We’re hearing that hidden homelessness is growing. There are folks living in precarious situations. They might have a roof over their heads but it’s not predictable, safe and adequate.”
Jenkins said Lift is seeing an increase in community impact and concerns around homelessness as unhoused individuals in the community are becoming increasingly visible. She said compounding factors are the overdose public health emergency and really low vacancy rates in qathet, which continue to be below one per cent. There are still ongoing impacts of COVID-19, she added.
“About a year ago, my colleagues from Lift and several unhoused members of our community were in these chambers requesting the city support opening an emergency shelter at 4746 Joyce Avenue with funding from BC Housing,” said Jenkins. “That shelter is still open. We offer an immediate space for adults experiencing homelessness to stay overnight and connect with health, housing and social services.
“The qathet temporary shelter is located right next to the Community Resource Centre. We have 20 beds for men, women and couples.”
Jenkins said the shelter is open daily from 9:30 pm to 8 am, serving a hot dinner and breakfast every day. There are two trained support staff on duty at all times and an onsite manager Monday to Friday.
Jenkins said since October of last year, there have been 69 unique visitors staying at least one night at the shelter.
“That’s 69 residents of our community who have found themselves in need of emergency shelter services,” added Jenkins. “Right now, we are averaging about 18 guests per night, so we’re almost full every night. We are seeing 38 per cent women, which is higher than the provincial average, 12 per cent seniors and seven per cent youth.
“We are restricted to providing services above the age of 19, so the 19 to 25 category is growing as well. At least 90 per cent of guests are long-term qathet residents. We’re not seeing people from outside the community showing up at the shelter.”
Shelter closes during day
Jenkins said the shelter closes at 8 am and guests must leave and go out on the streets where inclement weather is a factor. She said BC Housing has responded to a request from Lift to increase the staffing hours of the shelter to stay open 24 hours.
“This is a temporary funding increase they have offered, available immediately, until March 31,” said Jenkins. “It gives us a bit of time to keep people indoors during the day in these cold winter months. We’d have increased opportunities for shelter guests to connect with health, social and housing supports.
“I’m here to ask, urgently and immediately, for your support, mayor and council, in the form of a letter that we could share with BC Housing so we would be able to increase our shelter operations to 24 hours.”
Mayor Ron Woznow asked if there was an opportunity to get funding so that when the shelter is operational 24 hours, there could be specific programs to assist those using the shelter who want to make fundamental changes in their lives.
Jenkins said the funding through BC Housing involves the support staff, so that allows one-on-one support, but it’s ad hoc with people staying at the shelter. She said the shelter is fortunate to be co-located with the Community Resource Centre, where some support can be provided.
Councillor George Doubt made a motion that the mayor write a letter of support for the extension requested for the overnight shelter. The motion carried unanimously.
