The Province will fund more than 150 extreme weather spaces across Greater Victoria this winter to increase emergency shelter space when extreme weather conditions threaten safety and health.

These temporary spaces will be available from now until March 31, 2014, when a community issues an extreme weather alert. They will supplement more than 145 permanent shelter beds across Greater Victoria that are open year-round.

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 B.C. government also funds outreach teams in Greater Victoria that help connect people with a range of services, such as housing, health care and community supports. Provincewide, homeless outreach teams helped more than 6,700 individuals access stable housing last year.

Quotes:

Rich Coleman, Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing -

"These additional spaces provide an extra layer of support during extreme weather conditions and supplement permanent services in the community. "

"In Greater Victoria, the Province provides around $19 million annually for more than 870 emergency shelter spaces, subsidized units and rent supplements for people who are homeless. The extreme weather shelters help our partners make sure that everyone has a warm, safe place to stay during the cold winter months."

Quick Facts:

• Throughout the province, the B.C. government will provide up to $1.5 million this winter to make more than 1,100 temporary emergency shelter spaces available in over 80 communities.
• More than 800 Extreme Weather Spaces were used across Greater Victoria last winter, providing those who were homeless with protection from extreme weather.
• Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested $3.6 billon 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 $19 million was invested last year to support more than 870 emergency shelter spaces, subsidized units and rent supplements for those who were homeless across Greater Victoria.
• A list of shelter spaces is available at www.bchousing.org/Options/Emergency_Housing/ESP

Learn More:

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

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Elaine McKay
BC Housing
778 452 6476
604 375 3326 (mobile)  

BACKGROUNDER

Locations offering temporary shelter during Extreme Weather Alerts

The Extreme Weather Response (EWR) 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 offer temporary shelter space when an Extreme Weather Alert is activated:

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

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

Victoria
Our Place Society, 919 Pandora Ave.
50 spaces

The Salvation Army, Addictions and Rehabilitation Centre, 525 Johnson St.
30 spaces

St John The Divine, 1611 Quadra St.
40 spaces

Contact:

Elaine McKay
BC Housing
778 452 6476
604 375 3326 (mobile)