VICTORIA – Vulnerable people experiencing homelessness will now have access to additional safe shelter spaces during the cold winter months and times of extreme weather in communities around British Columbia.

With colder weather already hitting parts of the province, the Government of B.C. is partnering with local governments and non-profit organizations to provide more than 640 winter shelter spaces and over 800 extreme weather response shelter spaces in more than 40 communities.

“Everyone needs access to a safe and warm place to stay, especially during extreme weather conditions,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “The health and safety of people living on the street will always be a priority for our government and their well-being is especially concerning during the cold and wet winter months when prolonged exposure to extreme conditions could be fatal.”

All regular winter shelter spaces will be open overnight every night, with many open 24/7, and providing meals and health services.

Extreme weather response shelters will be available when communities issue extreme weather alerts. Individual municipalities determine which weather conditions warrant an alert, and how many spaces to activate on a given night, depending on shelter capacity and the estimated need.

Both regular winter shelters and extreme weather response shelters are in operation from November 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018.

These spaces supplement the almost 2,000 permanent, year-round shelter spaces available throughout British Columbia.

The B.C. government also funds outreach teams that work across the province at shelters and on the street to help connect individuals experiencing homelessness with housing and support services, such as income assistance and mental health services.

A complete list of shelters by community is included in the backgrounders.

Quick Facts:

• The B.C. government is investing $291 million to build 2,000 modular housing units for people who are homeless and more than $170 million over three years to provide 24/7 staffing and support services.
• The Province will be working with local governments and community partners to develop a Homelessness Action Plan to reduce homelessness through permanent housing and services.

Learn More:

To learn more about the Province’s emergency shelter program, go to: www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/homelessness-services/emergency-shelter-program

To see a map of permanent and temporary shelters in B.C., visit: www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/homelessness-services/emergency-shelter-map

Media Contact:

Rajvir Rao
BC Housing
604-456-8917

Backgrounders follow.

BACKGROUNDER 1

Locations offering regular winter shelters

The following locations will offer winter shelter space throughout the winter season. More winter shelters may be added throughout the season. Updates to this list can be found here: www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/homelessness-services/temporary-shelters

100 Mile House 

• 555B South Cedar Ave.

Coquitlam 

• 3030 Gordon Ave.

Cranbrook 

• 533 Slater Rd.

Grand Forks

• 7212 Riverside Dr.

Kamloops

• 245 St Paul St.
• 433 Tranquile Rd.

Kelowna

• 2600 Hebert Rd.

Merritt

• 2038 Nicola Ave.

Nelson

• 816 Vernon St.

Penticton

• 1706 Main St.

Salmon Arm

• 441 3rd St. SW

Salt Spring Island

• 268 Fulford-Ganges Rd.

Trail

• 1458 Bay Ave.

Vancouver

• 828 Cambie St.
• 119 E. Cordova St. (Harbour Light)
• 119 E. Cordova St. (The Sutherland)
• 609 Helmcken St.
• 1060 Howe St.
• 134 E. Cordova St.
• 1648 E. 1st Ave.
• 1401 Hornby St.
• 131 Dunlevy Ave.
• 1138 Burrard St.

Victoria

• 755 Pandora Ave.
• 1450 Elford St.

Media Contact:

Rajvir Rao
BC Housing
604 456-8917

BACKGROUNDER 2

Locations offering temporary shelter during extreme weather alerts

The following locations will offer temporary shelter space when an extreme weather alert is activated. More extreme weather response shelters may be added throughout the season. Updates to this list can be found here: www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/homelessness-services/emergency-shelter-map

Abbotsford

• 2616 Ware St., for youth only
• 34081 Gladys Ave.
• 2884 Gladys Ave.
• 33264 Old Yale Rd., for women only

Burnaby

• 7540 6th St.
• 8611 Armstrong Rd.(overflow site)

Campbell River

• 690 Evergreen Rd.

Chilliwack

• 46130 Margaret Ave.
• 45746 Yale Rd.
• 45845 Wellington Ave., for youth only

Courtenay

• 632 Pidcock Ave.

Delta

• 4960 48th Ave.

Duncan

• 2579 Lewis St.

Fort St John

• 9824 99 Ave.

Hope

• 63030 Flood Hope Rd.

Kitimat

• 480 City Centre

Ladysmith

• 631 1st Ave.

Langley

• 5787 Langley Bypass

Maple Ridge

• 22188 Lougheed Highway

Mission

• 32646 Logan Ave.

Nanaimo

• 595 Townsite Rd.

New Westminster

• 606 Clarkson St.
• 402 East Columbia St., for women only

North Vancouver

• 705 West 2nd St.
• 225 East 2nd St. (overflow site)

Port Alberni

• Port Alberni Shelter, 3978 8th Ave.

Port Coquitlam

• 2211 Prairie Ave.

Port Hardy

• 8635 Granville St.

Powell River

• 4500 Joyce Ave.

Prince George

• 1188 6th Ave.
• 144 George St., for women only
• 140 Quebec St., for men only

Quesnel

• 146 Carson Ave.

Richmond

• 3111 Shell Rd., for men only
• 7260 St. Alban's Rd.

Saanich

• 231 Regina Ave.

Smithers

• 3827 Broadway Ave.

Squamish

• 37930 Third Ave.

Surrey

• 5337 180 St.
• 10776 King George Blvd.
• 10697 135A St.

Terrace

• Ksan Terrace, 4444 Lakelse Ave.
• Ksan Terrace, 2812 Hall St.

Vancouver

• 1138 Burrard St., youth only
• 969 Burrard St.
• 555 Homer St.
• 320 Alexander St.

Victoria

• 525 Johnson St.

White Rock

• 15385 Semiahmoo Ave.

Media Contact:

Rajvir Rao
BC Housing
604-456-8917