Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - When temperatures plummeted to −20° last year, SRD Emergency Coordinator Shaun Koopman stepped in to make arrangements for Campbell River’s homeless population to be sheltered in the city’s community centre. The SRD intervened again last week, but at their November 9 meeting the Board decided this was a Campbell River problem.

As Chief Administrative Officer David Leitch put it, “When it comes to the shelters, then the direction we have is that the Regional District is not going to do anything. I'm not saying that these groups won't approach us and we'll communicate with the city, but we have no authority.”

Former City Councilor and newly elected Campbell River Mayor Kermit Dahl explained, “For the last four years on council, this has been a last minute thing every year and each year the SRD comes to the city and wants to use the community center. This year, same thing. I was hoping that maybe something had happened over the last year, but clearly nothing has. We had 24 hours notice that the SRD was asking if the community center could again be used as a shelter and programming that was already prescheduled had to be canceled to make it available.”

The SRD vote came in response to a Campbell River Coalition to End Homelessness request ‘that the Strathcona Regional District consider becoming the operator for BC Housing contracts for temporary and extreme weather shelters in the Regional District.’

Their letter states:

“Until 2021, Campbell River non-profit organizations have provided these services. As the population of unhoused individuals and families increases, our partner organizations no longer have the physical or human resources to open these critical services on their own.”

“These programs are periodic rather than ongoing, therefore existing agencies who are currently struggling with staffing and resource issues cannot meet this surge in demand. We believe the sustainability needed to operate Extreme Weather/Temporary Shelters lies with a government body.”

“BC Housing is eager to open these shelters — almost wherever capacity and need exists. The Campbell River community has worked collaboratively in the last two years to develop and coordinate a community response that is nimble, flexible, and meets all regulatory and safety requirements.”

“We hope the Regional District will consider becoming the Operator in Campbell River as a starting point to develop systems and expertise for any community in the region that needs to open a temporary shelter. This would include budget development, signing the contract with BC Housing, recruitment, training and hiring staff, and financial administration.”

Rene LaBoucane, SRD manager of Strategic Initiatives, informed the board, “The coalition is seeking a longer term sustainable approach and has requested that the SRD manage and coordinate contracts with BC housing and work with the community to deliver services. We've had some initial discussions and basically want to get some direction from the board as to our next steps and if we further research the request.”

SRD staff presented two options to the board:

(A) They could give staff direction to prepare a report on the possibility of operating homeless shelters, or

(B) The SRD could advise the coalition that the SRD is not prepared to take on the responsibility for operating homeless shelters at this time.