VANCOUVER - The B.C. government will provide up to $1.6 million this winter to help more than 90 communities make additional shelter spaces available to ensure everyone has access to a safe, warm place at night.

More than 1,100 temporary, extreme weather shelter spaces will be available from now until March 31, 2015, as communities issue extreme weather alerts for their area. 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 close to 1,800 permanent, year-round shelter beds in B.C. Most permanent shelters are now open 24/7 and provide three meals a day.

The Province 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 connected to housing, income assistance and a range of support services by provincially funded homeless outreach and shelter workers.

Quotes:

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

“During the winter months, our government works with communities and volunteers around the province to ensure additional shelter space is available. With these shelter spaces, we are providing another resource to help people who need a safe, warm place to stay.”

Quick Facts:

• 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.
• Approximately $169 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.
• A list of Extreme Weather Response shelter spaces is available at: http://www.bchousing.org/Options/Emergency_Housing/EXR
• Extreme weather spaces supplement the close to 1,800 permanent, year-round shelter beds in the province, which are funded through the Emergency Shelter Program.
• A list of permanent 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 more information on provincial affordable housing programs and efforts to end homelessness in B.C., 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 throughout B.C. offer temporary shelter space when an Extreme Weather Alert is activated:

100 Mile House

CMHA South Cariboo (99 Mile Motel), 896 Alpine Ave. / 10 spaces

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 spaces

Sevenoaks Alliance Church, 2575 Gladwin Rd. / 20 spaces

Burnaby

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

Campbell River

Radiant Life Church, 1241 Dogwood St. / 16 spaces

Courtenay

The Salvation Army (Pidcock Emergency Shelter), 632 Pidcock Ave. / 15 spaces

Cranbrook

The Salvation Army (Kootenay Valley Community Church), 533 Slater Rd. / 24 spaces

Duncan

CMHA Cowichan Valley (Warmland House), 2579 Lewis St. / 10 spaces

Grand Forks

Boundary Emergency and Transitional Housing, 7212 Riverside Dr. / 7 spaces

Hope

Hope & Area Transition Society, 63030 Flood Hope Rd. / 5 spaces

Kamloops

CMHA Kamloops (Emerald Centre), 271-275 W. Victoria St. / 10 spaces

Kitimat

Kitimat First Baptist Church, 840 Columbia Ave. / 15 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

Merritt

Nicola Valley Shelter and Support Society, 1937A Quilchena Ave. / 10 spaces

Mission

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

Nanaimo

First Unitarian Fellowship, 595 Townsite Rd. / 18 spaces

New Westminster

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

North Vancouver

Lookout Emergency Aid Society, 705 West Second St.; 225 East Second St. / 45 spaces

Parksville

The Salvation Army, 187 Alberni Highway / 8 spaces

Port Alberni

Port Alberni Shelter Society, 3978 8th Ave. / 15 spaces

Port Coquitlam

Trinity United Church, 2211 Prairie Ave. / 20 spaces

Port Hardy

The Salvation Army (Lighthouse Resource Centre), 8635 Granville St. / 12 spaces

Prince George

ASAP Bridget Moran Shelter, 590 Dominion St. / 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 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 and Southern Gulf Islands Community Services, 268 Fulford-Ganges Rd. / 20 spaces

Sechelt

Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, 5838 Barnacle St. / 10 spaces

Squamish

Squamish Helping Hands Society (the Fire House) 37930 Third Ave. / 10 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

Terrace

Ksan Housing Society, 3312 Sparks St.; 2812 Hall St. / 23 spaces

Trail

Carrer Development Services (La Nina Shelter of Greater Trail), 1300 Pine Ave. / 6 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

Vernon

John Howard Society of the North Okanagan (Gateway House), 2800 33rd St. / 10 spaces

Victoria

Our Place Society, 919 Pandora Ave. / 50 spaces

The Salvation Army, 525 Johnson St. / 30 spaces

Victoria Cool Aid Society, 755 Pandora Ave. / 40 spaces

White Rock       

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

Media Contacts:

Elaine McKay
BC Housing
778 452-6476