Nanaimo’s women’s-only emergency shelter is hoping people recognize its need and step forward to help as it kicks off a fundraising campaign for an estimated $2-million expansion.
The Island Crisis Care Society, which runs Samaritan House, has started a crowdfunding page to move ahead on its work to secure a building permit. It’s also launched a new website as a kickoff to a larger capital campaign for a three-storey addition.
The shelter has 14 beds and six transitional suites and has been at 100-per cent occupancy for five to six months, says Violet Hayes, executive director. Six people are being put on mats most nights, and in August staff had to turn away women 111 times.
“When we turn them away, there’s nowhere else for them to go so that is heartbreaking,” said Hayes, who said Haven House is usually full and a lot of the women who have gone to Samaritan for help wouldn’t be eligible for a bed at Haven.
“We’re seeing a lot of women now that are in maybe [their] 60s and have been evicted, through no fault of their own; just the landlord has sold the house or the apartment,” she said, adding there are people who lived in their suite or apartment for 10-15 years and now have no place to go. “It’s the market has just gone so high. Very challenging.”
An expansion would build about 10 more shelter beds and approximately 10 supported units, but the idea behind the space is it’d be fluid so the Island Crisis Care Society can adapt to the needs of the community whether it’s for emergency shelter or transition spaces. According to the society’s campaign website, there would also be planned spaces to reduce crowding and increase support, better storage and meeting rooms that would allow health care workers to meet privately with women and volunteers to provide services.
Crowdfunding has generated $500 so far. The organization hopes to raise $5,000, which will go toward groundwork for a building permit, like HAZMAT testing, a project manager and more drawings, according to Hayes.
Its development permit expires next May.
The larger capital campaign to raise $2 million is still under development but people can donate through www.moreroomforhope.ca and get a charitable receipt.
“We’ve been absolutely thrilled with the interest from the community and the businesses and people are really coming together and looking for ways they can help us,” said Hayes.