Provincial authorities reject proposal for a 'sober' living arrangement, prompting pushback from Nanaimo mayor.
In the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia, a proposed five-storey building at 250 Terminal Avenue is set to house 50 studio homes for individuals currently experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The project, which has always been planned under the province's "housing first" model, has recently gained attention due to a request from the city council and the mayor, Leonard Krog.
Krog is advocating for the facility to be a "dry" or sober-only space, a concept that aligns with the ethos of another upcoming project in the city: "The Sparrow" facility. The Sparrow, while not 100% dry, is designed to minimize exposure to alcohol and drugs to support individuals in recovery without risking eviction due to relapse.
The mayor believes that a safe place for people trying to remain clean and sober should not be surrounded by people in active addiction. He questions the ideologically-based positions of some in the health community, suggesting they may lack real-world experience with people recovering from addiction.
Housing Minister Christine Boyle considers recovery-oriented housing an important piece of the housing continuum. She believes bringing people indoors into housing is a key step in reducing street disorder and open drug use. The province will work closely with the city and service providers to ensure safety at both facilities.
The city council of Nanaimo has voted to write to the province in support of making the 250 Terminal Ave. project a "dry" facility. Leonard Krog argues that the province has become too focused on the "housing first" model and that it's not a rigid rule. He suggests that the province should be open to changing the policy to better accommodate people who have managed to get out of addiction.
The specific type of accommodation planned for the 250 Terminal Ave. project and the other ministry involved are not explicitly named in the available information. However, the province is also building another 78-space facility called "The Sparrow" in Nanaimo, serving people who want to minimize exposure to alcohol and drugs.
Bringing people indoors into housing is seen as a way to address major points of public contention in communities like Nanaimo, such as street disorder and open drug use. The provincial government considers recovery-oriented housing an important part of the solution, working closely with cities and service providers to ensure safety and support for those in need.
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