Risebridge Society is only four years old, and we continue to learn and grow every day.  The political challenges that we have faced as an organization doing low barrier work in a privileged community have been exhausting and eye-opening for us all.  We remain determined to support all those in need, and ensure Oceanside is a safe and accessible place for all to live.  Getting to advocate for, secure and then operate a cooling centre for Nanaimo, Parksville and Coombs this summer during extreme heat was certainly our biggest success thus far.  It also served as a fantastic opportunity for us to spread the word about what more we could offer and other support available in the community.  Having a table at the local farmers market this summer was also a great low barrier way to support service navigation and assist with housing advocacy while connecting with the community.

Our programming in Oceanside has been highly successful and appreciated thus far by many and has made a significant positive impact for the individuals in our community needing support.  Oceanside has long-needed low barrier programming accessible to all that is trauma informed and culturally aware to address the area’s growing needs.  Without Risebridge receiving funding to do this work this year, there would be no drop-in program to provide accurate community data or operate the precedent setting warming/cooling centre programs.  We are hopeful that by combining our relationship with BC housing and our political advocacy it may still be possible to run extreme weather programming this season and extend our services during emergency times for community. 

There are politics surrounding low-barrier and social service supports in rural communities especially when they intersect with housing precarity and the toxic drug crisis.  We were quite excited to be offered a contract with BC Housing again this year to operate a needed cold weather shelter on a nightly basis for the Oceanside area; however, politics on the municipal level hindered our ability to do so.  Despite the obstacles put forth by our municipal government to block the cold weather shelter, we were further compelled in our advocacy work to lean on our community partnerships and together create the opportunity for us to operate a Night Program.  During this time, we operated programming in which unhoused individuals, or those living in their cars, were able to access this indoor space from 7 pm-7 am, giving us the ability to further connect and support those seeking housing in the Oceanside area.