The 24 shelter spaces in Cranbrook are the only ones in the East Kootenay

The B.C. Government will provide up to $1.5 million this winter to help more than 80 communities make additional shelter spaces available for those who are homeless when cold weather threatens the safety and health of individuals.

More than 1,100 temporary spaces will be available from now until March 31, 2014, 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 more than 1,800 permanent, year-round shelter beds in B.C., more than double the number of beds that were available in 2001. Most permanent shelters are now open 24/7 and provide three meals a day.

The B.C. government also funds outreach teams to help connect people with a range of community services in over 60 communities. Last year, more than 6,700 people were provided with stable housing through outreach services.

“Each winter, the B.C. government works with communities and volunteers around the province to make sure that extra shelter space is available during the cold winter months,” stated Rich Coleman, Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing. “These additional spaces supplement permanent, year-round services and provide an extra layer of support to make sure that everyone has a warm, safe place to stay.”

Close to 21,100 Extreme Weather Spaces were used throughout the province last winter, providing those who were homeless with protection from extreme weather across British Columbia.

Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested $3.6 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors and families. This year, more than 98,000 B.C. households will benefit from the government’s housing programs and services.

Around $185 million was invested last year to support more than 11,000 emergency shelter spaces, subsidized units and rent supplements for those who were homeless across B.C.

Extreme weather spaces supplement the more than 1,800 permanent, year-round shelter beds in the province, which are funded through the Emergency Shelter Program.

A list of shelter spaces is available at: www.bchousing.org/Options/Emergency_Housing/ESP

– To receive notifications on when communities are issuing Extreme Weather Alerts, follow BC Housing on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/BC_Housing

– For more information on provincial affordable housing programs and efforts to end homelessness in British Columbia, please visit: www.housingmattersbc.ca/factsheets.html and www.bchousing.org

The following locations offer temporary shelter space when an Extreme Weather Alert is activated:

(Ed. note: we are providing the entire list to showcase how few extreme weather alert spaces there are in the Kootenays compared with regions in the rest of the province.)

Cranbrook

The Salvation Army, 533 Slater Rd. / 24 spaces

Nelson

Nelson Cares Society (Stepping Stones), #7 – 567 Ward St. / 6 spaces

Trail

United Church/Communities in Faith, 2030 – 2nd Ave. / 6 spaces

100 Mile House

99 Mile Motel, 896 Alpine Ave. (Highway 97) / 10 spaces

Abbotsford

Cyrus Centre (youth), 2616 Ware St. / 10 spaces

Emmanuel Mennonite, 3471 Clearbrook Rd. / 20 spaces

The Salvation Army (Centre of Hope), 34081 Gladys Rd. / 20 spaces

Sevenoaks Alliance Church, 2575 Gladwin Rd. / 20 spaces

Ross Road Community Church, 3160 Ross Rd. / 10 spaces

Burnaby

Lookout Emergency Aid Society, 7540 6th St.; 8611 Armstrong Ave. / 57 spaces

Campbell River

Safe Shelter (Radiant Life Church), 1251 Cyprus St. / 16 spaces

Courtenay

Pidcock Shelter, 632 Pidcock Ave. / 15 spaces

Duncan

CMHA Duncan (Warmland House), 2579 Lewis St. / 10 spaces

Fort St John

The Salvation Army (Fort St. John Care and Share Centre), 10116 – 100 Ave. / 25 spaces

Grand Forks

BETHS, 7212 Riverside Dr. / 5 spaces

Hope

Hope & Area Transition Society, 63030 Flood Hope Rd. / 5 spaces

Kamloops

Out of the Cold, St Paul’s Cathedral, St. Vincent’s de Paul, 360 Nicola St. / 28 spaces

Kitimat

Location and number of spaces to be determined mid-November

Langley

The Salvation Army (Gateway of Hope), 5787 Langley Bypass / 30 spaces

Merritt

Nicola Valley Extreme Weather Shelter, 1999 Voght Street / 10 spaces

Mission

Mission Community Services (Haven in the Hallow), 32646 Logan Ave. /15 spaces

Nanaimo

First Unitarian Fellowship Church, 595 Townsite Rd. / 18 spaces

New Westminster

Lookout Emergency Aid Society, 606 Clarkson / 30 spaces

North Vancouver

Lookout North Shore, 705 West Second St. / 45 spaces

Parksville

The Salvation Army, 187 Alberni Highway / 8 spaces

Penticton

Cold Snap Inn, 639 Main St. / 20 spaces

Port Alberni

The Salvation Army, 3978 8th Ave. / 15 spaces

Port Coquitlam

SHARE Family & Community Services, 2211 Prairie Ave. / 20 spaces

Port Hardy

The Salvation Army (Lighthouse Resource Centre), 8635 Granville St. /12 spaces

Prince George

ASAP Bridget Moran, 1188 – 6th Ave. / 10 spaces

AWAC Women’s Shelter, 144 George St. / 10 spaces

Prince George Native Friendship Society (Ketso Yoh Men’s Shelter),

160 Quebec St. / 10 spaces

Quesnel

Quesnel Shelter and Support Society (Seasons House), 146 Carson Ave./ 10 spaces

Richmond

The Salvation Army (Richmond House), 3111 Shell Rd. / 6 spaces

St Alban’s Anglican Church, 7260 St. Alban’s Rd. / 16 spaces

Saanich

Victoria Native Friendship Centre, 231 Regina Ave. / 25 spaces

Salmon Arm

The Salvation Army (Lighthouse Inn from the Cold), 441 3rd St. / 12 spaces

Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring Island Community Services Society, 268 Fulford-Ganges Rd./ 20 spaces

Sechelt

The Salvation Army, 5838 Barnacle St. / 10 spaces

Sooke

Sooke Baptist Church, 7110 West Coast Rd. / 10 spaces

Surrey

Cloverdale Church, 102-17802, 66 Ave. / 15 spaces

Options Community Services Society (Hyland House Newton), 6595 King George Blvd. / 15 spaces

Surrey Urban Mission, 10776 King George Blvd. / 40 spaces

KEYS: Housing & Health Solutions, 10697 135A St. / 10 spaces

Terrace

Ksan Housing Society, 3120 Braun Street / 10 spaces

Vancouver

Directions Youth Resource Centre, 900 Pacific St. / 15 spaces

Evelyne Saller Centre, 320 Alexander St. / 40 spaces

Catholic Charities, 828 Cambie St. / 20 spaces

First Baptist Church, 969 Burrard St. / 25 spaces

Gathering Place, 609 Helmcken St. / 40 spaces

St Mark’s, 1805 Larch St. / 25 spaces

Tenth Avenue Church, 11 West 10th Ave. / 25 spaces

Salvation Army – Belkin House, 555 Homer St. / 20 spaces

Salvation Army Harbour Light, 119 East Cordova St. / 50 spaces

Vernon

John Howard Society of the North Okanagan (Gateway House), 2307 43rd St. / 10 spaces

Victoria

Our Place Society, 919 Pandora Ave. / 50 spaces

The Salvation Army, 525 Johnson St. / 30 spaces

Victoria Native Friendship Centre, 231 Regina Ave. / 25 spaces

St. John the Divine, 1611 Quadra St. / 40 spaces

White Rock

Options Community Services Society (First United Church), 15385 Semiahmoo Ave. / 15 spaces.

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