In the latest homelessness study, one of the main reasons for housing loss was people leaving unfit or unsafe housing.
Advocates say many low-barrier properties that were repaired after being declared nuisance properties a few years ago, are now worse than ever after the city rescinded the designation.
Mayor Sharie Minions said council is aware and is preparing to act.
“We’re looking to make improvements again and we’re considering whether that’s a nuisance building designation or a remedial action order,” she said. “Those are two strategies that we’ve used successfully in the past for those buildings. We see what’s going on and the unfortunate conditions that people are living in, and we are going to utilize the tools that we have to make improvements wherever we can.”
Minions said the recent homeless count outlines the increase in vulnerabilities and significant challenges like addictions as root causes of a 30% increase in homeless people in Port Alberni during the past 2 years.
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