qathet Coalition to End Homelessness (qCEH) is working diligently to mitigate impacts of homelessness in the community.
At the City of Powell River committee of the whole meeting on April 1, three representatives of the coalition appeared as a delegation to share information about its activities.
Courtney Harrop said the coalition was established in November 2024 with the intention of supporting community members and neighbours facing homelessness, and responding to impacts from insecure housing or shelter, and limited food security.
“The vision of the coalition is to unite community members in our region – including those with lived and living experience of homelessness – in a collaborative effort to prevent homelessness and to support those experiencing it,” said Harrop. “qCEH is dedicated to fostering dignity, equity and opportunity for all by addressing the root causes of homelessness through advocacy, support and innovative community-driven solutions, as well as supporting and implementing grassroots, community-based action and mutual aid response to the housing and homelessness crisis in our region.”
Harrop said between November 2024 and this February, the coalition spent time developing collaborative relationships with community partners and building community support.
“This led to us also planning for an extreme weather response over the winter, as there was no organization taking on the task,” said Harrop. “Extreme weather response supports folks living outdoors during extreme winter weather conditions.
“In February of this year, the coalition worked hard to quickly set up and operate an emergency warming centre as part of extreme weather response, during two weeks of freezing temperatures and winter conditions.”
Harrop said the coalition did a community donation drive for food and warm clothing and organized a successful community-supported fundraiser to help sustain its operational needs.
“We want to thank the United Church, city staff and council for warm spaces, logistical support and for responding so quickly to our neighbours in need,” said Harrop. “The warming centre was organized and operated by people with lived and living experience with homelessness, and community volunteers. It was an invitation to bring people indoors to warm up, connect, eat a home-cooked meal and spend time together.”
Shyanne Ashton-Hopkins said her overall experience volunteering for the emergency warming centre was good, putting in several nights from midnight to 7 am during the two weeks the centre was in operation. She said volunteers stepped up and there never seemed to be a shortage of warm beverages and food available. The homemade meals such as soups, casseroles and individually portioned dinners were very popular, she added.
“In future, it would be ideal to have an emergency response plan that supports an extreme weather shelter, with showers and laundry, during colder months,” said Ashton-Hopkins.
Harrop said the only emergency shelter in the region closed its doors indefinitely on March 26. Along with providing overnight shelter for unhoused neighbours, the shelter also provided laundry support, two meals per day and connections to other supports and services.
“The shelter closure, alongside the temporary closure of the community resource centre, which provided lunch five days a week, results in folks not only having to find places to sleep, but are also now faced with food insecurity, having lost daily meals and food support,” said Harrop. “Since the closure, with support from community members and volunteers, the coalition has been supporting people with supplies, resources and a daily meal.”
Lisa Moffatt said lots of people have been asking how they can support the coalition’s efforts. She said there has been a laundry fund set up at Westview Drycleaners and Laundromat where donors can go and donate, or they can e-transfer at [email protected].
City councillor George Doubt said it is important that the community comes together and finds a replacement for the closed shelter.
“We have to find a way to house people in our community,” said Doubt. “If people are not living indoors, if there is no shelter, they are going to have to seek shelter outdoors. That is going to be in public places and I would like to avoid that.”
Councillor Trina Isakson moved that the committee ask staff to report back on options for a cold weather response plan for winter 2025/2026.
Councillor Cindy Elliott suggested an amendment outlining a plan that would include cold and hot weather. Isakson said she would be happy for the motion to state having an extreme weather response plan for both heat and cold for the unhoused population. The motion carried unanimously.
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