The city’s designated homeless camping site will be transformed into a supervised micro-village this summer.
The city is providing the land on Homewood Road. It will also do the engineering work necessary to install units for up to 40 people to sleep in warmth and safety, and store their belongings.
The province, through BC Housing, will provide capital costs and funding for staff to be on site 24 hours a day, seven days per week, to provide supervision and support. It will be called “HEARTH Village.”
“I’m excited that our government is partnering with the City of Campbell River for the creation of HEARTH Village,” said Michele Babchuk, MLA for North Island, in a news release. “This project was first proposed at the Union of BC Municipalities conference in September 2023, and I’m proud of how quickly we’ve been able to move from concept to construction. This project also couldn’t have happened without the support of Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside and local community members.”
The village will be managed by an experienced non-profit organization. Each unit will be private with a locking door. On-site staff will provide daily meals, access to skills training, and other health services. It will also have shared amenity spaces and washrooms.
BC Housing says the site was chosen because it’s immediately available, already in use for overnight sheltering, and close to community services.
“Campbell River has an urgent need to serve people who are experiencing homelessness and to help address encampments and associated challenges in our community,” said Mayor Kermit Dahl. “In keeping with city council’s commitment to community health and safety, our partnership with the Province will reduce some of the challenges our community is experiencing and will provide new, safe housing options.”
The village is exactly what residents of the Shady Maples mobile home park across the street have been requesting for months — a place for people experiencing homelessness that is supervised. Shady Mapes residents, mostly seniors, have had to deal with increased crime, vandalism, and noise late at night since the site was designated for camping, and have been lobbying the city for relief.
After community engagement and site preparation this spring, proponents hope to have the village open by the middle of this year. A community-wide open house has already been scheduled for March 20 at the Community Centre to discuss the project.
For more information, or to register for the open house, visit BC Housing’s website dedicated to the project.
