10 Jul 2023 Council meeting Safety

Delegation from Bern Muller, Salvation Army New Hope Centre re: the Breakfast Meal Program

Motion
That: • the existing Breakfast Program Contract be extended for 4 months with funding from the daytime resource carry forward; • correspondence be sent to the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and the Minister of Housing requesting ongoing funding support for a permanent meal program to assist Nanaimo's unhoused population; and, • a Staff report on funding options for establishing a permanent meal program be provided for Council’s consideration as part of the 2024 budget discussions.
Minutes, page 5–6
Sources
Agenda itemCity agenda, whole meeting

Hilary Eastmure Yes

Um, so I would like to put forward a motion for consideration that the existing breakfast program contract be extended for four months. . With funding from the daytime resource carry forward. Acknowledging that the funding expired July 9th. The also that correspondence be sent to the minister of social development and poverty Reduction and the minister of housing requesting ongoing funding. Support for a permanent meal program to assist Nanaimo is an housed population.
We need to organize the plans that we have a better system. . That's All the words in that acronym, Um and I see them being able to help us cut through the noise on this and also work with the provinces that we can effectively come up with a more long term, sustainable solution where it isn't always falling on us to deal with it in a crisis that we can actually Plan a system that works better for everyone.

Erin Hemmens Yes

Um, but I do want to register some concern that we are Um We're playing catch up, and I agree. This is a crisis. We're seeing services shut down, and we're raising funds that are meant for other things to fill that gap. . This really rests with the province and we need to see them fund it. We need to see them come to the table in a very different way. And four months we're going to be having this conversation again, , and I don't want to have Um, the same go around. I would like more answers at that point, and I know that's not anyone in this room. . Responsibility. . Um But I do just want to register that, um, something I would like to see. Included in the staff report is is some conversation around the community advisory board. . And their role in helping to coordinate and include the SP. Oh, in this, those those bodies that are meant to coordinate our collective response to these pressing issues, whether that's funding for food funding for shelter, etcetera, etcetera. So, um, we are providing city funds in an emergency situation to this crisis. . If we were going to provide those funds in a more coordinated way, could they be used differently more efficiently Serve more people in the long run, rather than this process that we have set up here today, So I'm in support, but with some deep reservations. . Thank you.