Submitted. The B.C. government will fund more than 700 extreme weather shelter spaces across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley this winter
to help those whose health and safety may be threatened by cold, wet weather.
The temporary spaces will be available from now until March 31, 2015 as communities issue extreme weather alerts for their area. The spaces will supplement the more than 1,000 permanent, year-round shelter beds across the region.
In Abbotsford:
Sevenoaks Alliance Church
Open March only 2575 Gladwin Road
20 mats available
*Men only
Emmanual Mennonite Church
3471 Clearbrook Road
20 mats available
Ross Road Community Church
Open January only 3160 Ross Road
10 mats available
*Men only
Abbotsford Pentecostal Church
3145 Gladwin Road
20 mats available
Cyrus Centre
2616 Ware Street
10 mats available
In Mission
Haven in The Hollow – Mission Community Services
32646 Logan Avenue
15 mats available
Each community decides 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.
The Province also funds outreach teams in a number of Metro Vancouver communities, including Vancouver, North Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, the
Tri-Cities, New Westminster and Abbotsford. These teams help connect people to housing, health care services and income assistance and provide
links to other programs, such as the food bank and life skills support.
Last year, more than 6,700 people in B.C. were connected with a range of support services.
“Our government works with communities and volunteers in Metro Vancouver
and around the province to ensure additional shelter space is available
for people in need of a safe, warm place to stay during the winter
months. Funding for these spaces is part of the more than $112 million
annually we invest in the region to provide emergency shelter spaces,
subsidized units and rent supplements for people who are homeless or at
risk of homelessness.”-Rich Coleman, Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister
Responsible for Housing
Quick Facts:
* Throughout the province, the B.C. government will provide up to $1.6 million this winter to make more than 1,100 temporary emergency shelter
spaces serving more than 90 communities.
* A list of Extreme Weather Response shelter spaces is available at: http://www.bchousing.org/Options/Emergency_Housing/EXR
* Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested $4 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors and families. This
year, nearly 100,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial social housing programs and services.
* A list of shelter spaces is available at: www.bchousing.org/Options/Emergency_Housing/ESP