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.

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.

Quotes:

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

“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.”

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

Learn More:

To receive notifications on when communities are issuing Extreme Weather Alerts, follow BC Housing on Twitter: @BC_Housing (twitter.com)
 
For information on housing investments in Metro Vancouver, please visit:

http://www.housingmattersbc.ca/docs/fs_Community-Vancouver.pdf and

http://www.housingmattersbc.ca/docs/fs_Homeless%20Supports_Vancouver.pdf

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.

Media Contacts:

Elaine McKay
BC Housing
778 452-6476

BACKGROUNDER

Locations offering temporary shelter during Extreme Weather Alerts

The Extreme Weather Response 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 in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley will offer temporary shelter space when an Extreme Weather Alert is activated:

Abbotsford

Abbotsford Pentecostal Church, 3145 Gladwin Rd. / 20 spaces

Cyrus Centre, 2616 Ware St. / 10 spaces

Emmanuel Mennonite Church, 3471 Clearbrook Rd. / 20 spaces

Ross Road Community Church, 3160 Ross Rd. / 10 space

Sevenoaks Alliance Church, 2575 Gladwin Rd. / 20 spaces

Burnaby

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

Langley

The Salvation Army (Gateway of Hope), 5787 Langley Bypass / 30 spaces

Maple Ridge

The Salvation Army (Caring Place), 22188 Lougheed Hwy. / 15 spaces

Mission

Mission Community Services Society (Haven in the Hollow), 32626 Logan Ave. / 15 spaces

New Westminster

Lookout Emergency Aid Society, 606 Clarkson St. / 30 spaces

North Vancouver

Lookout North Shore, 705 West Second St.; 225 East Second St. / 45 spaces

Port Coquitlam

Trinity United Church, 2211 Prairie Ave. / 20 spaces

Richmond

The Salvation Army (Richmond House), 3111 Shell Rd. / 6 spaces

St. Alban’s Church, 7260 St. Alban’s Rd. / 16 spaces

Surrey

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

KEYS: Housing & Health Solutions, 9012 160 St.; 10697 135A St. / 30 spaces

Options Community Services (Hyland House Newton), 6595 King George Blvd. / 15 spaces

Surrey Urban Mission Society, 10776 King George Blvd. / 60 spaces

Vancouver

Catholic Charities, 828 Cambie St. / 20 spaces

Evelyne Saller Centre, 320 Alexander St. / 40 spaces

The Gathering Place, 609 Helmcken St. / 40 spaces

Directions Youth Services Centre, 1138 Burrard St. / 15 spaces

First Baptist Church, 969 Burrard St. / 25 spaces

St Mark's Anglican Church, 1805 Larch St. / 25 spaces

Tenth Avenue Alliance Church, 11 West 10th Ave. / 25 spaces

The Salvation Army (Belkin House), 555 Homer St. / 20 spaces

The Salvation Army (Harbour Light), 119 East Cordova St. / 50 spaces

White Rock

Options Community Services Society (First United Church), 15385 Semiahmoo Ave. / 15 spaces

Media Contacts:

Elaine McKay
BC Housing
778 452-6476