November, 2024
It is well recognised by the Town of Creston and the community that there is small group of citizens who are suffering from chronic or intermittent homelessness. We do not have a shelter for these vulnerable people in Creston. This is a gap in service, as identified by health, social support, mental well-being, and addiction service agencies, as well as caring citizens in Creston.
Homelessness is a problem shared by every community across Canada, and indeed, the world. It is a symptom of the ills many of us face, especially since Covid – poverty, lack of housing affordability, high cost of living, family breakdown, isolation, mental health challenges, family abuse, and chronic illness which may include brain injury or drug addiction. Our unhoused folks in Creston suffer from some or all of the above, and all are traumatized, in one way or another. We have great compassion for these individuals.
In spite of the unstable and unsafe conditions in which they live, we have seen them be respectful, non-threatening, appreciative of any help that is offered, and trying to look out for others on the street. They are all on hard times. Without access to the very basic human rights to shelter, food, water and sanitation, the cards to housing, better health, treatment and reconnection with family are stacked very severely against them.
But we, in Creston, can help if we work together.
Last winter, thanks to the hard work and dedication of people from Trinity Treasures, Trinity United Church, numerous volunteers, community donations and subsequent funding from BC Housing, an Out of the Cold overnight shelter program was established in the former Ambulance Building. Town Council voted to make this space available from January 1st to March 31st.
By all measures, the Out of the Cold program was extremely successful, especially considering it was staffed, furnished, and funded in a matter of weeks. Approximately fifteen individuals were served over time, both men and women, young adults, and seniors (including space for beloved pets and service animals.) Some who were living in vehicles or temporarily “couch surfing” or in precarious housing situations due to unsafe homes, were able to come in for respite, a meal, some comfort, and connection to services.
A number of these clients were able to move on to more sustainable housing, employment, and/or treatment due in part to the help they received at the Den. No one died or suffered severe frostbite as may have happened without a shelter. There were no major problems or incidents, and we were good neighbours. Referrals to provide shelter for individuals in need were taken from the hospital, women’s shelter, and local police. As with any start-up organization, or business, there were growing pains. When a new shelter is established, we have plans in place which will mitigate past problems and build on our strengths.
Sadly, on March 31st, the doors to Out of the Cold were closed, and folks were back on the street.
Some Crestonites may remember a controversy created last April when the Town of Creston offered a small Town-owned building connected to the public washrooms on Canyon Street as a possible shelter location. It was very quickly deemed not suitable by the early Working Board/Den Society, BC Housing, and local businesses. The Town of Creston withdrew their proposal after this feedback. A public petition had been circulated to block this proposal, and though it was clear that a shelter would not be supported on the main street, many indicated there was a need for a shelter in a more appropriate location.
In the Town of Creston’s News Release in April 2024, they stated they would be working with the Den Society and BC Housing to investigate the establishment of a permanent shelter in Creston.
The current non-profit group called the Creston Valley Den Society became formalized over a period of seeking rightly motivated directors with training and work experience in backgrounds in education, health, social work, and justice was supplemented by direct and humanizing discussion of needs from long-time locals with a diversity of lived experiences of homelessness and poverty. A lengthy period of documentation, street-outreach, advocacy, research, and discussions followed, and the group began the task of finding a safe and more sustainable solution for our unhoused.
With new directors and renewed energy, the Den Society began investigating various locations around town. For many reasons outlined in detail to the Town of Creston, we believed the former Ambulance building was the most appropriate location for a small, safe, supported shelter for the unhoused. The Society was very excited to see the “Request for Proposal” (RFP) from the Town for lease or sale of the former Ambulance Building.
The Den Society prepared a detailed and comprehensive proposal that included a full funding commitment from BC Housing to establish a nine bed, medium barrier, 24-hour “Temporary Winter Shelter” from November 1st through April, 2025. Everything was covered under this budget including staffing, food, equipment, rent, utilities, etc. Many letters of support from businesses immediate to the location, locals, agencies, services, and other local groups at multiple levels of and sizes were gathered.
The expressed intention of the Den Society was to use this time to find long-term funding options, and to determine whether the lease with the Town of Creston at the Ambulance building would be continued, and – if so – for how long, or whether an alternate location would be preferred by the society and clients. We were fully expecting to be part of the Town’s community consultation process.
The RFP timeline indicated that a decision would be made by the Town in early September. We submitted the RFP prior to its deadline date of August 16th while answering those questions proposed as outlined in their document.
Unfortunately, even though they were aware that the funding deadline from BC Housing was September 15th, Town Council declined to accept our proposal, even conditionally. Many calls were made offering to answer questions prior to this after their prolonged silence which fell outside of their stated RPF timelines. On the day funding would be no longer available, they asked for answers to additional questions in a closed meeting, to which we responded quickly. The opportunity for full funding had still knowingly been lost. Now, the only other option for even the most minimal indoor shelter funded through BC Housing is an Extreme Weather Response (EWR) Shelter.
The Town of Creston recently conducted a survey asking for public input on opening an overnight shelter in the former Ambulance building when the temperature is -10°C or colder; well below freezing temperatures. The survey indicated that a large majority of those surveyed were in favour of this shelter. That means, at best, people will be sleeping outside in freezing winter weather, when there is a warm, dry, safe, and serviced building sitting empty. It is possible that if the Town of Creston works with the Creston Valley Den Society and BC Housing, we may be able to find some better options together. We are open to any conversation that will assist our unhoused friends.
Since last spring, the Board and Volunteers of the Creston Valley Den Society have been providing outreach, food, kindness, and temporary shelter to our unhoused neighbours. With money and supplies saved from last year’s program, fresh grant applications, kind donations, and support from local non-profits such as Trinity Treasures and Gleaners, we have been able to provide tents, sleeping bags and other cold weather equipment.
Our volunteers have been making paper bag lunches every day and now have started distributing healthy freezer meals the unhoused can heat up with provided tools. We have helped some unhoused people get reinstated with their disability payments, renew their ID, and connected with other agencies and services.
As the weather gets colder, we are preparing to offer a hot meal each afternoon in a space rented from the United Church, using funds generously donated by close Friends of the Den. The space will provide meals, and vulnerable folks can also wash up, warm up, and connect with other services which may help them get back on the track to housing and/or better health.
For more on Outreach activities and Volunteer Opportunities, please visit our information section on these services.
Survival comes first, but so many good things can come after.