The president of the Port Alberni Shelter Society says his organization was blindsided by BC Housing who informed them on December 30th they were pulling their contract to operate the Our Home shelter on 8th Avenue
Myron Jesperson said the decision is baffling, and they’re still trying to figure out the ramifications.
“Hopefully we can weather this without a lot of impact on our other programs,” he said. “It’s a gut-punch, there’s no question. It hits us emotionally and we’re just trying to sort out what other implications there might be.”
Jesperson said their main priority at this point is to minimize impact on residents and clients, and their 57 staff members.
He said the Shelter Society still operates the Overdose Prevention Site, Phoenix House, Emergency Shelter, Safe Sobering Site, Shelter Farm and many other services in the Alberni Valley, and is hoping to meet with BC Housing to see if there’s a chance of resolution.
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