The manager of a Nanaimo supportive housing site says that almost one year on from breaking ground, the community is coming together around 1030 Old Victoria Road.
“Even those folks that were coming in with those tricky questions in the early days are wanting to be a part of what we’re doing here,” said Dolly Earl-Smith.
Residents and staff at the site in Nanaimo spoke with People First Radio during a visit this January.
The facility is operated by Vancouver Island Mental Health Society, and came about through the provincial HEART and HEARTH program.
Earl-Smith says 43 people are living on site, with about 15 more still to move in.
“We have all different walks of life living here with us at 1030 Old Victoria Road,” she said.
Earl-Smith says people are referred to the site by various community organizations in Nanaimo, who meet periodically in a community advisory group.
“The first tier of that was individuals living in sheltering systems here in Nanaimo. At our first tier we took 14 potential, pre-approved individuals that were living in shelters that could manage the rules and regulations in shelters. And then second stage to that was individuals that were living outside in encampments around Nanaimo, individuals that were connected with the CSO(Community Safety Officers) here in Nanaimo as well. And then we are just entering in the third phase of that, all different organizations that work with individuals that have mental health and or substance use concerns that can move in here and live their best life, whatever that looks like for them.”
Dolly Earl-Smith is manager of 1030 Old Victoria Road
The site features a few modular buildings with bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry facilities, a lounge, and kitchen and dining hall, as well as a tent for supervised consumption of substances, and another, separate tent for cigarette and cannabis smoking.
“ A lot of our folks use substances, but we also have a large portion that don’t,” said support worker Joey.
“So having a separate smoke pit just for cigarettes is another space for people that maybe don’t feel like they’re then around people that are using substances. A lot of our folks are like trying to get sober or are sober, so that creates a nice space.”
The site features multiple bildings containing 59 bedrooms, as well as shared laundry facilities, bathrooms, a common area, kitchen, and dining hall.
Norman, a 60 year old resident says he was living in a sobering house for a couple of months before moving into 1030 Old Victoria Road, and was homeless before that.
“ When I started living here, it was like paradise for me because living on the street is a little bit tough.”
He says he made a decision when he turned 60 to stop using substances. When he was offered the option to come to 1030 Old Victoria Road, he says he was unsure at first, but has been pleasantly surprised.
“ I like it here. It’s very quiet. I’m surprised, the food is very good…I really like it here because of the quietness and the comfort too.”
Norman says he is working towards getting a birth certificate, to allow him to open a bank account, to eventually allow him to rent his own apartment.
For red seal chef and baker Joseph Thomas, who is the Food Services Supervisor for VIMHS and comes from a background of working in fine dining, cooking at 1030 Old Victoria Road day in, day out, is rewarding work.
“You’re cooking for the same people every day, so you get to build relationships, obviously with the residents here,” Thomas said.
“Here, food’s important, you know what I mean? And it’s something that the residents look forward to every day. And I make sure that when I produce dinner and, and present it to them, it’s the highest quality possible.”
Joseph Thomas is the food services supervisor for Vancouver Island Mental Health Society. A red seal chef and baker, in the past he’s prepared meals for Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family.
Thomas says a lot of the people living on site have come from a shelter, or directly of the street, which had an impact on their diets.
“ Nutrition obviously wasn’t happening for them before. I have a few people that have told me that their bodies feel great now, they feel strong, and based on the food that they’re getting, and getting it regularly.”
Thomas says the budget is tight, and he makes a weekly trip to the Loaves and Fishes food bank in Nanaimo, which influences what goes on the menu.
“ It’s almost like a black box competition for a chef. What do you have? Boom. And then basically turn it into something.”
Once a month, he holds a fine-dining Friday for the residents. In January, salmon cioppino was on the menu. He says he’s seen the events bring a spark to residents.
“ What I love about it too is, I ask them to dress up and they do wear sports jackets and some of the ladies wear dresses,” he says. “And they love it. And again, it’s just something that puts a smile on their face.”
He says around Christmas time, 1030 Old Victoria received donations from nearby community members.
“We had a couple neighbors across the street, they’re absolute wonderful human beings. They came over with a whole bunch of coffee creamers, and popcorn and clothing and games and just, they get it,” he said. “I love the fact that they didn’t think negatively towards us being across the street from their house.”
On the radar for Thomas is eventually being able to train people living on site to pick up some kitchen skills, something already on the go at other VIMHS locations.
65 year old resident Genie says she’d been homeless for over a year before coming to 1030 Old Victoria Road.
She says the chance to move into 1030 Old Victoria Road came about when she was approached by a worker who found her at a drop in service centre on Nicol street in Nanaimo called The Hub.
“ She came there and said, ‘hey, you wanna go for ride?’ And she brought me out here. I moved in within a couple hours, so it was so nice,” Genie said.
She says she feels safe at 1030 Old Victoria Road, which was a concern of hers prior to moving in.
“Clean rooms, nice privacy. You can close your door.”
She says she wants the community to know that the people who live at 1030 Old Victoria are not scary.
“ We’re not out to hurt anybody, we just fell on hard times,” she said. ”It’s just like a little small community loving people, like every that works here is great, they don’t look down on you or anything like that, which is great to see.”
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