Category: Shelter
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Risebridge offers community support
We are so fortunate that Marnie Boers, a Director with Risebridge, made time to answer questions from PAN about their Fall 2025 operations. 1. Tell us about your drop-in times. Where are they, when are they, and what kind of support is provided to people who attend? Community drop-in times…
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News that surprised exactly ZERO frontline workers
By Sarah Pump, PAN Executive Director “Despite increased demand, access to basic needs services in Nanaimo has declined over the past decade,” says a report from staff at the City of Nanaimo. On May 12th, 2025, City of Nanaimo staff presented a report to the Governance and Priorities Committee about…
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I’m a Frontline Worker. Your Disrespect Is Loud and Clear.
Guest post from Marnie Boers. I am a registered emergency nurse with over 17 years of experience. I have spent years working on the frontlines of the toxic drug crisis here in Nanaimo. I have also volunteered and worked with Risebridge, a reasonably new non-profit that supports our city’s most…
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PAN Stands with Dr. Jess Wilder
By Sarah Pump, PAN Founder and Executive Director On January 22, Dr. Jess Wilder was placed on administrative leave from her physician lead positions in harm reduction and education, and addiction medicine at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. This leave was a punitive response to Dr. Wilder’s advocacy on behalf of…
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Pets & BC Housing
By Sarah Pump, Executive Director Recently, PAN has been contacted for support by several families experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness. Some of these families have been on the wait list for subsidized housing through BC Housing for a long time and don’t understand why they haven’t received a placement. There…
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Lack of Funded Warming Spaces in Nanaimo is an Emergency
Yesterday, PAN was copied on an email written by a doctor on the front lines of our homelessness crisis in Nanaimo. She addressed any and all people in positions of authority in Nanaimo, pleading for warming centre support for our unhoused neighbours. Instead of sharing an excerpt, we decided to…
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Homelessness Rates in Nanaimo and Beyond
By Cody Wolfe, PAN Contributor According to censuses made between 2019 and 2022, the homeless population in Nanaimo grew from 893 to 1206 respectively: a 35% increase, whereas the total population increased by about 10% in roughly that same span of time, growing from an estimated 90,504 to 99,863. However…
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One Risebridge Volunteer shares their story
By PAN Contributor Christine I have been volunteering at Risebridge since November 2023. I have met so many wonderful people. I had wanted to get involved with helping the unhoused for years, but I didn’t know how to go about it. One day, I was on Facebook and saw a…
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An interview with Cedar Woman House
PAN was so fortunate last week to have an opportunity for a written interview with Meagan Anderson, the Acting Director of Cedar Woman House. Cedar Woman House is a 24/7 staffed transition house for women and their dependant children who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing violence. Poverty…
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Ministry Crisis Supplements: Access and Use
Crisis supplements are a valuable tool for people on Income Assistance and PWD (Provincial Disability).It’s helpful to be aware of what you are eligible for. Everyone’s experience is different. I have had significant success applying regularly for crisis supplements through the Self Serve online portal (you can also apply over…
Poverty Advocacy Nanaimo 