The province will fund more than 550 extreme weather shelter spaces across Metro Vancouver this winter to increase emergency shelter space when extreme weather conditions threaten the safety and health of individuals.

These temporary spaces will be available from now until March 31, 2014, when a community issues an extreme weather alert. They supplement more than 1,100 permanent shelter beds across Metro Vancouver 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 a number of Metro Vancouver communities, including Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Coquitlam and Abbotsford 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 -

"Each winter the government of BC works with communities and volunteers around the province to make additional shelter spaces available during the cold winter months."

"These temporary spaces provide an extra layer of support and supplement permanent services available in the community. In Metro Vancouver, the province provides around $115 million annually to support more than 7,000 individuals who are homeless with a variety of housing options. The extreme weather shelters help to make sure that everyone has a warm, safe place to stay when the weather is at its worst."

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.
• Close to 4,000 Extreme Weather Spaces were used across Metro Vancouver 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 $115 million was invested last year to support more than 7,000 emergency shelter spaces, subsidized units and rent supplements for those who were homeless across Metro Vancouver.
• 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

Learn More:

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:

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

Langley
The Salvation Army, 5787 Langley Bypass
30 spaces

New Westminster
Lookout Emergency Aid Society, 606 Clarkson
30 spaces

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

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

Richmond
The Salvation Army, 3111 Shell Rd.
6 spaces

St Alban's Anglican Church, 7260 St. Alban's Rd.
16 spaces

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

Options Community Services Society, 6595 King George Blvd.
15 spaces

Surrey Urban Mission, 10776 King George Blvd.
40 spaces

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

White Rock
Options Community Services Society, 15385 Semiahmoo Ave.
15 spaces

Contact:

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