Thanks to a recent grant, some Vancouver residents impacted the most by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will receive increased access to washrooms and additional shelter spaces.
The City of Vancouver announced today a federal funding injection of $4.9 million came from the Lu’ma Native Housing Society on behalf of the Service Canada’s Reaching Home program. The funding will be dedicated to a number of services including installing two new washroom trailers, extending hours at several city facilities and creating a new 60-bed temporary shelter.
“COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Vancouver’s most marginalized neighbours, forcing reductions in shelter capacity and leading to fewer washrooms open to the public or accessible to people without homes," said Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart. "That’s why we are extremely grateful to Minister Ahmed Hussen and the Government of Canada as well as Lu’ma Native Housing for their support though the Reaching Home program.”
David Wells, chair of the Indigenous Homelessness Steering Committee agrees that Vancouver’s unhoused population has faced the most hardship during the pandemic and adds a significant number of those people are Indigenous.
“Supporting the provision of additional washroom facilities and temporary housing, is a critical response that we can make to addressing some of the hardships being experienced by those experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Vancouver,” Wells said.
The funding will also ensure the continued operation of three existing washroom trailers that have given people to access basic hygiene services during the pandemic.
Research conducted last year by the City’s Homelessness Services Team and indicated that over half of unhoused people had to resort to relieving themselves in a street or alleyway.
We're pleased to have received $4.9M from the Federal #ReachingHome program to support residents most impacted by COVID.
— City of Vancouver (@CityofVancouver) February 10, 2021
We'll use this funding to install two new washroom trailers, extend hours at existing facilities & refurb a 60-bed shelter.
Read more https://t.co/KI59ss90KL pic.twitter.com/rKC8NWREWr
The first of the new washroom trailers will be installed in mid-February at 1115 Hornby Street, next to the Murray Hotel. According to a city press release this decision was made in response to community feedback about the need for additional facilities in the Downtown South neighbourhood.
The trailer will have five stalls, free menstrual products and needle collection containers. The trailer will also be staffed by Atira Property Management Inc. with the goal of reducing overdoses in high-risk locations such as unmonitored washrooms.
The city is also expanding hours for its current monitored washrooms in the following locations:
- Gathering Place, 998 E 19th Ave from 9 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.
- David Lam Park, 1300 Pacific Boulevard from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- English Bay Beach Park, 1790 Beach Ave from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sunset Beach, 1204 Beach Ave from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
While the majority of the $4.9 million will be used to improve access to washrooms and hygiene, $1.8 million will go toward lease and renovation costs of a new 60-bed shelter. According to the release the city is now waiting on provincial funding for this location and other shelter options for Vancouver’s unhoused population. Those other options are reportedly scheduled to open in the coming months.
