Comox Valley Transition Society's Connect shelter is one of two emergency housing shelters in the Comox Valley and serves the highest need client base of any resource in the area.  Many of the individuals who access services at Connect have been restricted from services at other organizations, have no other options, and rely on Connect to meet many of their basic needs.  Connect clients are those who have been most deeply impacted by the myriad crises of housing affordability, toxic drug supply and lack of mental health supports and without the services provided by Connect many of these individuals would not have their basic needs of food, clothing and shelter met, and be at critical risk of death related to toxic drug poisoning - a risk which is mitigated by the dozens of overdose responses undertaken by Connect staff on a monthly basis. 

The lack of affordable housing affects everyone in our community and does not discriminate against age, income, family size, gender, or disability.  In saying this, our senior population is feeling the strain and stress of losing their housing, unable to afford medications or treatments, increased ailments, or injuries, and physical and cognitive changes due to aging.  These folks often do not have family supports, lack community and health supports, and are unable to supplement their income through work to keep their housing.  They often are the victims of unfair evictions because they have had very lengthy tenancies at a much lower price point than the current market holds.  Many of these seniors do not have the capacity to fight or follow through with Residential Tenancy Board processes regarding these types of evictions and instead are abandoned to living in precarious or unsafe housing situations, their cars, or to the streets.  Seniors are a more vulnerable population at the best of times.  Living without housing should not be added to the daily risks of an aging population.