Extreme weather response shelters open throughout B.C.

November 17, 2016

VICTORIA – The British Columbia government will provide approximately $1.6 million this winter to fund close to 1,000 extreme weather shelter spaces to ensure those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have access to a safe and warm place to stay during nights of severe weather.

The additional spaces will be available in nearly 75 communities from now until March 31, 2017, when a community issues an extreme weather alert. Communities decide what weather conditions warrant an alert and how many spaces to activate on a given night, depending on the capacity of existing shelters and the estimated need.

These spaces supplement the almost 2,000 permanent, year-round shelter spaces available throughout the province. Most permanent shelter beds are available 24/7 and provide three meals a day.

The Province also funds outreach teams that work at winter shelters and on the street to help connect people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with housing and support services such as income assistance and mental health services.

Quotes:

Rich Coleman, Minister of Natural Gas Development and Responsible for Housing –
“Each winter, we work with communities and non-profit groups to make sure that anyone who wants to come inside for the night has a warm, safe place to go. Funding for these shelter spaces is part of the more than $200 million annually we invest in the province to provide emergency shelter spaces, subsidized units and rent supplements for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.”

Jim Coggles, executive director, The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light –

“Living without a roof over your head is challenging enough without having to sleep outside in the bitter cold, high winds and heavy rain. These much needed additional beds don’t just provide comfort, they offer refuge, and they help to save lives. Added to the 206 beds we provide every night throughout the winter months, these 30 extreme weather shelter beds will be activated during episodes of severe weather in downtown Vancouver. Each guest will be welcomed by our staff, a hot meal and the opportunity to experience hope and assistance toward positive change.”

Wes Hewitt, administrator, Port Alberni Shelter Society –

“The Extreme Weather Response Program is a well used addition to the services that we provide the community in partnership with BC Housing. It helps in times of increased needs for those vulnerable people that have nowhere else to go and are at risk due to the weather.”

Quick Facts:

Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested $4.9 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors and families.
This year, more than 104,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial social housing programs and services.
Last year, the Province provided approximately $204 million to support more than 14,000 emergency shelter spaces, subsidized units and rent supplements for those who were homeless throughout British Columbia.

Learn More:

For more information on affordable housing programs and the province’s efforts to end homelessness in B.C., please visit: www.housingmattersbc.ca/factsheets.html
and www.bchousing.org

To see a map of permanent and temporary shelters in B.C., please visit:
http://www.bchousing.org/Options/Emergency_Housing/Map

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Ally Skinner-Reynolds
BC Housing
604 456-8895

BACKGROUNDER

Locations offering temporary shelter during Extreme Weather Alerts

The Extreme Weather Response program enables communities to temporarily increase emergency shelter capacity during extreme weather conditions. Communities determine when to issue an extreme weather alert and how many spaces to make available on a given night.

The following locations will offer temporary shelter space when an extreme weather alert is activated. More EWR shelters may be added throughout the season. Updates to this list can be found here: http://www.bchousing.org/Options/Emergency_Housing/EXR

100 Mile House

99 Mile Motel, 555B South Cedar Ave. – 10 spaces

Abbotsford

Cyrus Centre, 2616 Ware St. – 10 spaces, for youth only
Centre of Hope, 34081 Gladys Ave. – 20 spaces

Burnaby

Burnaby Extreme Weather Shelter, 7540 6th St. – 27 spaces
Burnaby Extreme Weather Shelter (overflow site), 8611 Armstrong Rd. – 20 spaces

Chilliwack

Ruth and Naomi’s Centre, 46130 Margaret Ave. – 16 spaces
Brigadier Arthur Cartmell House, 45746 Yale Rd. – five spaces
Cyrus Centre Chilliwack, 45845 Wellington Ave. – 12 spaces

Courtenay

Pidcock, 632 Pidcock Ave. – 15 spaces

Cranbrook

Salvation Army – Cranbrook, 533 Slater Rd. – 24 spaces

Duncan

Warmland House, 2579 Lewis St. – 15 spaces

Fort St John

Fort St John Care & Share Centre, 9824 99 Ave. – 28 spaces

Grand Forks

BETHS, 7212 Riverside Dr. – seven spaces

Hope

Thunderbird Extreme Weather Shelter, 63030 Flood Hope Rd. – five spaces

Kitimat

Kitimat, 480 City Centre – four spaces

Ladysmith

Ladysmith Homeless Aid, 631 1st Ave. – 10 spaces

Langley

Gateway of Hope, 5787 Langley Bypass – 10 spaces

Maple Ridge

The Salvation Army Caring Place, 22188 Lougheed Hwy. – 15 spaces

Merritt

Nicola Valley Extreme Weather Response Shelter, 2038 Nicola Ave. – 10 spaces

Mission

Haven in the Hollow, 32646 Logan Ave. – 15 spaces

Nanaimo

Unitarian Extreme Weather Shelter, 595 Townsite Rd. – 24 spaces

New Westminster

New West Extreme Weather Shelter, 606 Clarkson St. – 30 spaces

North Vancouver

North Shore Extreme Weather Shelter, 705 West 2nd St. – 20 spaces
North Shore Extreme Weather Shelter (overflow site), 225 East 2nd St. – 25 spaces

Parksville

Oceanside Taskforce on Homelessness, 233 Mills St. – eight spaces

Penticton

Compass House, 123 Nanaimo Avenue East – eight spaces
Black Forest, 707 Westminster Avenue West – four spaces

Port Alberni

Port Alberni Shelter, 3978 8th Ave. – 15 spaces

Port Hardy

Lighthouse Resource Centre – Out of the Cold, 8635 Granville St. – 12 spaces

Prince George

ASAP Bridget Moran, 590 Dominion St. – 10 spaces
AWAC Women’s Shelter, 144 George St. – 10 spaces, for women only
Ketso Yoh, 140 Quebec St. – 10 spaces, for men only

Quesnel

Seasons House, 146 Carson Ave. – 10 spaces

Richmond

Richmond House, 3111 Shell Rd. – three spaces (plus three overflow spaces), men only
Richmond Extreme Weather Shelter, 7260 St. Alban’s Rd. – 20 spaces

Saanich