The organization that runs the La Nina shelter in Trail says there is no truth to the notion that it recruits people from outside the community to fill shelter beds.
Trail Association for Community Living chair Gordon Fletcher and executive director Nancy Gurr sent a letter to city council this month, in response to another letter from local business owner Danny Ferraro, raising various concerns about the shelter’s operations.
Fletcher and Gurr said downtown business owners, their staff, and residents deserve to feel safe and supported. They added that issues of addition, homelessness, and public safety “are complex challenges” that affect communities across the province and the country.
But they said statements in Ferraro’s letter about the operation and funding of the shelter were inaccurate.
They said the society receives funding from several organizations, including Community Living BC, BC Housing, and the Columbia Basin Trust, as well as various provincial and federal grants. They said they are subject to regular reporting and random audits by their funders and provide annual audited financial statements.
They said the shelter operates under a fixed contract where funds are provided no matter how many people use the shelter from day to day.
In the past year, 120 people stayed at the shelter, of whom 101 were from Greater Trail, they added. Of those who were not from the immediate area, 13 were helped to return home, one received help accessing treatment, three found housing, and two remain homeless.
The society stressed that it doesn’t try to find people from out of town to fill the shelter’s beds, nor does it benefit financially from increased shelter occupancy.
The shelter’s budget is $1.4 million, the bulk of which goes toward staff. The shelter has three to four people on duty around the clock.
“The individuals accessing the shelter are members of our broader community who are experiencing significant challenges, including homelessness, poverty, and addiction,” Fletcher and Gurr wrote.
“While these issues are highly visible in many communities, shelters alone do not create these challenges. Instead, they are one of the essential community responses that provide safety, stability, and connection to services.”
City councillor Nick Cashol said he appreciated the letter and encouraged residents to read it. He also introduced a motion to invite representatives of the shelter and BC Housing to council to provide an overview of shelter operations and other things addressed in their letter. He further asked that BC Housing outline how often compliance reviews are conducted.
The shelter previously reported to council in November, but Cashol said he feels it’s time to invite them back.
“This motion is not about assigning blame or interfering with another agency’s mandate,” he said. “Rather, it’s about transparency and public confidence by having those responsible explain operations and oversight.”
Cashol said one purpose would be to quash any rumors before they take traction.
Council passed Cashol’s motion and also wondered about having the shelter come to council on a quarterly basis.
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