Most residents displaced by last month’s Rockland house fire are still living at a downtown shelter and searching for permanent accommodation.
The June 24 fire destroyed a 20-unit rooming house at 1114 Rockland Ave. and displaced 17 people. Nine of those residents, many of whom are on income assistance and dealing with mental health issues, took up an offer from the Salvation Army to temporarily stay at its addictions and rehabilitation centre on Johnson Street.
“We’re working with the Vancouver Island Health Authority to help build strong cases to find them suitable housing. Until that’s been found and located, they’ll be staying with us,” said Kyla Ferns, Salvation Army communications officer.
The displaced residents were also provided with clothes, courtesy of the Salvation Army thrift store, and have access to two daily meals and counselling services, Ferns said.
The 149-bed men’s shelter includes transitional housing, emergency housing and halfway housing.
Ferns said no one was evicted or denied a bed to house the Rockland fire victims.
