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.

Quotes:

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

"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. 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."

Quick Facts:

• 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

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:

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

Cranbrook
The Salvation Army, 533 Slater Rd. / 24 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

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

Trail
United Church/Communities in Faith, 2030 - 2nd Ave. / 6 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

Contact:

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