Work towards homeless solution continues, new shelter location soon to be finalized

In response to the current homeless situation in Prince Rupert, a particularly pressing issue during the current COVID pandemic response, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice has become the local housing facilitator it would seem.

With Ms, Rice bringing many of the community minded groups together to try to provide for some relief for the most vulnerable of the city.

While the Mayor and Council of late have seemingly gone silent on homelessness and many other local issues; the MLA has been seeking out a solution to the current need for an alternate location for the Third Avenue Shelter.

The current option one that as Ms. Rice noted a few weeks back, the city has ordered closed.

In response to our enquiry of a few days ago on progress towards that solution, the MLA has offered the following response on the status of that search to this point.

In this crisis, it’s critical that we support the well-being of everyone in our community- especially those going through these extraordinarily difficult times while experiencing homelessness. The North Coast Transition Society has been doing incredible work, and BC Housing is working to secure an alternate location for the 3rd Avenue shelter to enable the Transition Society to provide better distancing during the COVID-19 situation. When a new site is finalized, BC Housing will work with North Coast Transition Society on the logistics for a move to the new location. · Jennifer Rice, MLA for North Coast

And indeed the North Coast Review has learned that there is some solid progress being made, with potential locations identified and options being explored towards providing for both short and long term solutions.

Though no official announcements have yet to be made, it does seem that there may be at least one piece of the housing puzzle set to be resolved; that of the need for a new emergency housing shelter in the downtown area, with details to be released shortly on that solution.

As we outlined yesterday, many British Columbia municipalities have joined local groups towards resolving one of the most important issues of the moment for their jurisdictions.

For Prince Rupert much of the progress to this point seems to be coming together thanks to the work of the assembled collective of community partners and the resources they have to offer.

To date, their tireless efforts are seemingly taking place without much in the way of any moral support, or constructive assistance from City Council and City Hall.

You can follow along on the path on the housing issues of the Northwest from our archive page here.