The headlines have had a similar ring for years now.
‘Concern heightens over cold-weather shelter situation in Parksville Qualicum Beach’ (October 2019)
‘Still no firm plan for cold-weather shelter in Parksville’ (November 2019)
‘EDITORIAL: Who will step up this winter?’ (November 2019)
‘OPINION: Cold-weather shelter solution needs to be found for Parksville Qualicum Beach’ (September 2020)
‘Harrison: ‘It’s likely that there will be a hard winter for a lot of folks’ (December 2020)
‘Qualicum Beach’s proposed temporary cold-weather shelter plan rebuffed’ (March 2021)
‘Qualicum Beach significantly alters plan to establish dry recovery community: Budget for revised plan reduced to $189,660 from $1.28M’ (September 2021)
As of this writing (late Tuesday morning), Parksville Qualicum Beach residents can still enjoy some fine October weather — double-digit temperatures, sun shining… just another day in paradise.
But the rest of the week doesn’t look so promising with rain in the forecast. For most, that’s not an enormous issue, as we can watch the raindrops from inside our warm homes.
For others, that’s not possible — and it remains a massive issue and the subject of the above-listed headlines. The cold is just around the corner.
And while efforts are being made — the Town of Qualicum Beach hoped to establish a temporary dry recovery community of up to 15 housing units to help people facing homelessness, but the scope of the project has been changed and the budget slashed from $1.28M to $190,000) — “better than nothing” is still not enough.
We’ve definitely made progress from ‘A group of homeless people in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area are set to begin camping in a graveyard’ in 2019 but more remains to be done.
No temporary shelters will be built.
The services will now be provided by Forward House, Society of Organized Services, Island Crisis Care Society and OHEARTS. They will include: outreach services; full-time outreach worker and nurse; Saturday lunch program including part-time staff; part-time outreach worker/nurse on busy days, reporting and co-ordinating of project; community education and awareness – utilizing part-time services of the co-ordinator to provide education in community; raising awareness regarding homelessness, liaising with clients, and supporting housing initiatives; peer support – worker to accompany outreach worker; and personal protective equipment – provide PPE and client supports.
Moving in the right direction, but a more comprehensive plan is required.
Coun. Scott Harrison, who has long pushed for more affordable housing in the area, said it best when addressing the situation.
“So I don’t know what the winter holds. So that’s the one unfortunate thing for me.”
It’s the one unfortunate thing for everyone. Especially for the folks who remain without a home.
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