The sea can home community at Maple Pool Campground in Courtenay continues to grow.
The ninth WeCan Shelter home was officially unveiled on Saturday, May 6, putting a roof over the head of another person in need in the community.
Ron (name changed) has lived in the Comox Valley for the past decade. He became the victim of the ever-increasing cost of rental units. On Saturday, he was given the keys to his new B次元官网网址榯iny homeB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� a sea can refurbished into a studio unit, with a bed, a kitchen, and a bathroom with a shower.
B次元官网网址淚 had an apartment that was unaffordable, so I left there (in the winter of 2022) and went to a cheaper place, and seven months later they decided to sell that. So I ended up being homeless, basically,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 been since last August and I was lucky enough to get involved with WeCan, to get a home here.B次元官网网址�
Ron has started to become part of the community. HeB次元官网网址檚 already met his neighbours, and said he is grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the latest WeCan Shelter home.
B次元官网网址淚t means home,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t means having a door that I can actually close behind me, and itB次元官网网址檚 my place.B次元官网网址�
WeCan Shelter Society co-founder Charlene Davis hosted the event Saturday, and said the continued growth of the housing initiative is the result of the entire Comox Valley community coming together to help.
B次元官网网址淭he Courtenay Rotary Club sponsored the money for this oneB次元官网网址� but there are so many who contributed,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淢odern Windows and Modern Doors both contributed, Mark Tizya will put the awning on this one like he has so many others, the Rotary Club of the Comox Valley - the young guys (newest local Rotary Club) have become the core group of volunteers. They just continue to show upB次元官网网址� a few of their members have really embraced this project. We are also starting to attract a lot of people who have been homeless and want to help us, which is really interesting.B次元官网网址�
Davis said choosing recipients is a consistent challenge, considering the range of issues facing many of those dealing with homelessness.
B次元官网网址淲e have learned a few hard lessons about which occupant should be chosen,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎 lot of them need follow-up care and shepherding. Our group of volunteers are builders, not social workers, so we have to choose judiciously. Applicants come to us in a variety of ways, various social agencies, Island Health, and word of mouth, and are selected based on their ability to live independently and cohesively with others.B次元官网网址�
The one hard and fast rule is that the recipient must be homeless.
B次元官网网址淭hey have to be vaccinated and be homeless; couch surfing, camping, living out of a vehicle, etc.,B次元官网网址� said Davis.
The 10th sea can has already been purchased and is in the production stages.
B次元官网网址淲e have bought the container and it is at the welders, with the windows and doors being cut out.B次元官网网址�
Davis said the evolution of the WeCan Shelter Society as a whole has been a wonder to witness.
B次元官网网址淲e started three years ago and sort of just clutched everything together, made it work, built up some momentum, and now we have established ourselves as an entity that lots of people know about, which is great. I donB次元官网网址檛 have to explain things, and people realize that this is a good place to put their energyB次元官网网址� there is a tangible result to the money and the contribution that they make, and that is worth its weight in gold to people.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he need is not going to be diminished in any way, shape or form, so we will just keep on going.B次元官网网址�
As for Ron?
B次元官网网址淚 will sleep great tonight.B次元官网网址�
terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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