After five years of work, a new permanent shelter for Cranbrook’s unhoused population is set to open.
The Community Connections Society will be running the facility which they’ve named the ‘Step Beyond Shelter’.
Community Connections Society executive director Nancy Reid said the name recognizes what they are trying to accomplish.
“The shelter is called ‘Step Beyond Shelter’ given that we are hoping to help people move along in their journey. One step at a time to work towards your goals to step beyond shelter life.”
The space has room for 40 individuals with most beds available for extended stays.
“We will provide services to 40 individuals, five of those will be overnight rooms while the remainder can be ongoing so you can stay multiple nights, hang out during the day and take part in services that are happening,” she said.
“We’ll do programming like physical activity, arts pursuits, one to one supports, group supports and help people locate housing.”
Reid said helping get people into other housing is the main goal and residents can be denied access to the shelter if they deny other housing options.
“We do have a policy where if you do turn down housing that we helped you find on two occasions then you won’t be eligible to access a bed here.”
There are other rules residents will have to follow, which will be laid out when they first go through intake.
“At 4:00 p.m. people who want an overnight room can line up and staff will get some basic information from them,” Reid added.
“They will have a weapon search. After they get oriented and comfortable there’s a wider intake to ask about their health, mental health, connections to community and what their goals are. Through the orientation we area also making them aware of all the guidelines for accessing service and what the consequences will be for not meeting those guidelines.”
The facility has general sleeping areas, separate sleeping areas for vulnerable people, kitchen facilities where meals will be prepped onsite, washrooms, leisure areas, activity spaces, an indigenous space and outdoor areas.
Reid said they have also taken measures to address some of the public’s concerns over the shelters location, being located across from Mount Baker Secondary School and next to the Memorial Arena.
“People are worried there’s going to be more garbage, more needles and more people loitering, but we have a commitment to do an everyday walk about of a block radius to make sure things are not deteriorating because of our presence,” she added.
“I know some parents are concerned about the Memorial Arena and increased traffic but the model that we’ve put here is that we’re hoping to meet the needs of the folks that are here and they shouldn’t have to be wandering around loitering for things they need.”
Steps have also been taken to ensure staff safety.
“Staff will wear panic buttons and there are panic buttons at desk locations that staff can use,” Reid added.
“Those are immediate response for the RCMP and we’ll be on their list for quick response. If they get a call from here they know we need them and they’ll come quickly.”
The shelter will have a full rotation of approximately 25 staff members, and still needs a few finishing touches before it can officially open.
A firm date hasn’t been set, but they expect to start moving people in around Aug. 30.
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