Introduction

The Comox Valley witnessed a marked increase in outdoor sheltering activity in public spaces after indoor shelter options were either closed or significantly reduced in capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic. This increase in sheltering activity persists today due to a complexity of factors, including but not limited to: funding and limited supply of supported shelters; supported subsidized non-market housing; and affordable market housing. There has been a dramatic increase in homelessness within the region from 2018 to present.

Strengthening Communities Grant

In 2021, the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD), in partnership with the City of Courtenay, the Coalition to End Homelessness, the Comox Valley Transition Society, and the Wachiay Friendship Centre (Grant Application Development Group), successfully secured a regional grant of $1.093 million through the Government of Canada's and the Province of British Columbia’s Strengthening Communities’ Services program (administered by UBCM). This funding was used to implement the Increasing Vulnerable Population Supports and Connections in the Comox Valley project, aimed at supporting people experiencing homelessness in the wake of COVID-19.

This one-time grant was designed to provide immediate assistance to address the basic human needs of individuals without shelter during a time of unprecedented and rising homelessness. While long-term solutions—such as affordable housing, supportive housing, shelter with wrap-around services, and complex care units—are urgently needed and are actively being pursued, the Strengthening Communities’ Grant (SCG) was not intended for these purposes. The primary goal of this project was to offer a lifeline to those experiencing homelessness while navigating the deteriorating effects of COVID-19 on affordability, housing, income and job security, and mental and physical health.

See our infographic for details of the impact of the Strengthening Communities Grant.

Intended Outcomes of the Funding:

• Improved health and safety for unsheltered homeless individuals living in public or private spaces.
• Reduced community concerns about public health and safety in areas where unsheltered populations seek temporary shelter and services.
• Increased capacity for applicants to collaborate with homeless individuals and Indigenous organizations towards culturally safe and trauma-informed responses.

Approved Activities:

To achieve these outcomes, the funding supported the following initiatives:

• A temporary emergency warming centre.
• A temporary emergency overnight shelter.
• A daytime community access hub.
• Rural outreach on Denman and Hornby Islands.
• Peer-led outreach and clean-up services.
• Community engagement and anti-stigma outreach activities.
• Training and capacity-building activities across municipalities and the community.

Conclusion:

The provision of temporary and immediate services to people experiencing homelessness in the Comox Valley significantly improved health, safety, and well-being—and, most importantly, saved lives. Shelter, food, showers, medical supplies, and other essential services were provided to 100-150 people daily. Over the course of the initiative, there were 799 responses to toxic drug poisonings.

This project was instrumental in raising awareness about homelessness and the factors contributing to it, while also helping reduce stigma. Additionally, 910 individuals—including front-line workers and government staff—attended 48 training sessions aimed at fostering understanding and promoting support for people experiencing homelessness.

Importantly, the initiative gave People With Lived and Living Experience (PWLLE) the opportunity to have their voices heard, take on employment, support their peers, and feel a sense of connection and belonging. Today, PWLLE are actively involved in collaborative upstream systems-change efforts alongside public and private service providers and the broader community. The project has also contributed to the creation of policies aimed at reducing stigma and better supporting vulnerable populations, leaving a lasting legacy of positive change.

Final Report:

Find the Staff Report here.

Support Services

The Comox Valley Coalition to end Homelessness has created a Street Survival Guide for anyone who finds themselves experiencing homelessness.

The Street Survival Guide can be accessed here.