The Nanaimo Unitarian Shelter is celebrating 15 years and is embarking on a campaign to try to raise $10,000 for each year of its existence.
The First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo-operated shelter held an open house at its Townsite Road site the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 2, and launched its fundraising efforts for renovations to the building.
Paul Manly, executive director, estimated $150,000 will be needed to comply with provincial building regulations, but more will be known after a consultant’s report is received.
“We know we need to do a number of things…” he said. “It’s 77 years of different renovations that have gone on in there.”
He said money will also assist with the shelter’s other initiatives, including a clean team consisting of a staff member and clients.
“They get an honorarium to clean up the neighbourhood,” said Manly. “They pick up garbage in the neighbourhood and also down in Bowen Park and Caledonia Park, as part of our good neighbour policy. We want to mitigate the impact of homelessness in this community. It gives shelter guests some pride in doing something.”
According to a Unitarian press release, seniors are suffering from homelessness after being “renovicted.” Ed Bell, who previously stayed at the shelter, spoke about how he was helped.
“I had houses, I worked steady, I never drank, I never did drugs and you know, it happens,” he said at the open house. “The landlady in Youbou, I was there 18 years, she said ‘Ed, you’re the best tenant ever, you can stay here forever,’ then she realized she could get on a weekend as much as I was paying for a month and all of a sudden, I’m out.”
Bell said he didn’t have a clue what to do and was directed to the Unitarian shelter.
“I stayed here four months, they’re beautiful people, there’s angels here and they helped me out and now they’ve got me in a transition place … and things are really good,” he said.
Manly said work can’t be done during the winter and hopes renovations begin in late April or early May.
“We’re going to have to shut the shelter down … we’re looking for a temporary spot for some of our longer-term shelter guests and then we’re hoping to have enough money raised to get the renovations done.”
For more information, including how to donate, visit http://ufon.ca/weather-shelter.
READ ALSO: Nanaimo council says housing rules undermine local decision-making