After years of construction work, new shelter space is expected to open this month in downtown Nanaimo. The Salvation Army Centre of Hope is located at 19 Nicol St.
Formerly known as the New Hope Centre, it houses a shelter and other support programming. Construction has been ongoing since 2023 for a new four story expansion at the site that’s going up in place of a now demolished 19th century building.
Executive Director Bern Muller spoke with People First Radio Host Joe Pugh on site about plans for the new space.
“ The main floor of our building provides a dining space and a commercial kitchen, and we’ll be using that to feed people who are registered and staying with us in our shelter, as well as opening it for windows during the day for people who are not in a shelter to be able to come in and to access some food, a cup of coffee, and that sort of thing,” said Muller.
The centre had been continuing to offer services in an adjacent building during the renovations. Now that the new site is built, the plan is to do some upgrades on the other half of the site as well.
“We’ve had all of our residents staying in the one side of our building. That dorm has been accommodating 34 people, and it is being renovated in a matter of months,” said Muller.
He says the new space adds 34 shelter beds, taking the facility to a total of 68.
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