People experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Maple Ridge will have access to additional shelter spaces during extreme weather conditions this season.

The Province will temporarily expand the existing extreme weather response shelter, operated by the Salvation Army in Maple Ridge, to 25 beds. This will ensure people living on the street have access to a safe, warm place to stay overnight during the winter.

The shelter, which will open tonight, will only be available when an extreme weather alert is issued and additional beds are needed. The Salvation Army will operate the additional spaces at the shelter, which is located at 22239 Lougheed Highway.

The extreme weather response program enables communities to temporarily increase emergency shelter capacity during extreme weather conditions, including when the temperature is approaching zero degrees. Wind chill and precipitation are additional factors that may trigger an alert. Communities determine when to issue an extreme weather alert, and how many spaces to make available on a given night. 

The Province also funds outreach teams that connect people experiencing homelessness with housing and support services.

Learn More:

To learn more about the Province’s emergency shelter program, visit: https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/homelessness-services/emergency-shelter-program

To see a map of permanent, temporary, and extreme weather response shelters in B.C., visit: https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/homelessness-services/emergency-shelter-map