Island Crisis Care Society

06/03/2026

Most people will never spend a night in a shelter.

Most people will never know what it feels like to arrive somewhere carrying everything they own, unsure of what tomorrow will bring.

Most people will never understand how much it means to be welcomed, to feel safe, or to finally exhale.

Today, we're sharing a poem written by a guest who stayed at our Women's Shelter. It's not a report, a statistic, or a success story told by staff. It's a person's experience, in their own words.

As organizations, we often talk about beds provided, meals served, and housing secured. Those things matter. But every once in a while, someone shares something that cuts through all of that and reminds us what those numbers really represent.

A safe place.
A fresh start.
A moment of hope.

Simply put, this is why we do what we do.

06/02/2026

We're hiring an Assistant Manager - Assisted Living to join the ICCS team.

This role supports the day-to-day operations of our Assisted Living programs, helping ensure safe, high-quality services for residents while providing leadership and support to frontline staff. Working closely with the Manager, the Assistant Manager helps with site coordination, scheduling, and maintaining the standards that keep our programs running smoothly.

If you're passionate about housing, client care, leadership, and making a difference in the lives of others, we'd love to hear from you.

Learn more and apply through the link below.
https://bit.ly/4vnsXYP

05/30/2026

Turns out sometimes the best kind of therapy is a walk outside with good people and no agenda.

This week, residents from Orca Place and Hirst House spent time exploring Hamilton Marsh, soaking up some fresh air, stretching their legs, and getting out of the day-to-day routine for a while. There were laughs, quiet moments, wildlife sightings, and probably a few “we should do this more often” comments too.

When people think about support programs, they often picture meetings, paperwork, and appointments. But a huge part of wellbeing is also feeling connected, getting outside, moving your body, and being reminded that life can still hold simple good moments.

Our staff work hard to create these opportunities because recovery and wellness don’t only happen inside four walls. Sometimes they happen on a trail, beside the water, with a little sunshine and community mixed in

05/29/2026

PLEASE SHARE: A Drug Poisoning/Overdose Advisory has been issued for Nanaimo.
- Check out Island Health’s Harm Reduction Services page at https://ow.ly/FgyS50PLkLF to find information on overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites, drug-checking services and more.
- For harm reduction services and information, including naloxone programs, visit Toward the Heart at https://ow.ly/Nlzv50PLkLO
- If you’re using alone, try the Lifeguard App at https://ow.ly/183a50PLkLN or the Brave App at https://ow.ly/rbxN50PLkLG, or call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677
- For Indigenous-specific information, visit the First Nations Health Authority’s Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction pages at https://ow.ly/ktA450PLkNW

05/25/2026

Our Oceanside Outreach Worker recently shared a story that highlights how important consistent support can be for people facing complex challenges.

“One of the people I work with regularly has some significant health and financial barriers, so a lot of our work together is focused on helping him stay stable day to day. I help him access weekly food hampers, grocery gift cards, hygiene supplies, medication support, and transportation to appointments and other resources around the community.

Recently, he was dealing with a serious dental infection and was really stressed about how he was going to afford treatment. I was able to work with the Canadian Dental Care Plan to help get coverage in place, which took a huge financial burden off his shoulders. I’ll continue helping him with follow-up appointments and ongoing support."

A big part of outreach work is just continuing to show up. Sometimes people need help navigating systems, getting to appointments, or figuring out next steps. Building that trust and consistency can make all the difference.

05/22/2026

Spring has officially arrived at Newcastle Place, and our community garden boxes are already bursting with life!

Clients at Newcastle Place take the lead in planning, planting, and maintaining their own garden boxes, creating a space filled with pride, connection, and growth. What started as a garden has quickly become the heart of the community, bringing people together every day to share ideas, support one another, and celebrate each new bloom.

We cannot wait to see what the summer season brings to this beautiful space!

05/20/2026

With farmers market season approaching, the Rising Hope Community Kitchen is a great fit for local food makers, bakers, caterers, and small businesses looking for access to a commercial, Island Health approved kitchen space. The program was created to help support local entrepreneurship, food security, and community connection, while also creating opportunities for people to grow their ideas in an accessible and supportive environment.

We love seeing local makers using the space, building connections, and bringing their products into the community. Be sure to check out the post to learn more about the kitchen and how to get involved this summe

If you have ever been to a farmers market and thought, "I think I could do this. But how?"

Come talk to us at the Rising Hope Community Kitchen where we help people like you by providing the space to start your idea?

Harvesting and packaging but need more space? We have prep tables a plenty!

Already have a stand but need to expand, we have a variety of stations that could fit your product and space to store it.

When thinking Farmers Market - Think Rising Hope Community Kitchen

05/06/2026

When the Drop In Hub at 55 Victoria closed, the need in our community didn’t disappear. If anything, it became even more visible.

Every day, the Hub served people experiencing homelessness, individuals struggling with food insecurity, and community members who relied on it for basic necessities, connection, and support. We knew we couldn’t let that need go unanswered while we continued the search for a permanent location.

That’s why ICCS is pivoting to a Mobile Hub.

Behind the scenes, our team has been working to reimagine how we can continue showing up for people in the meantime. We are finalizing outreach locations across Nanaimo to help fill food service gaps while also bringing many of the same supports the Hub provided directly into the community.

To make this possible, we are currently in the process of purchasing a van. If you or someone you know would be interested in donating a cargo van, we would love to hear from you.

We are also still actively searching for a permanent replacement location for the Hub itself. But with so many people counting on these services, we knew we couldn’t wait.

Our community needs support now, and we’re committed to finding ways to keep showing up.