Extreme Weather Alert continues in Vancouver
Posted January 2, 2013 11:35 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER(NEWS1130) – Vancouver has continued its Extreme Weather Alert for at least one more night.
Almost 200 extra beds will be available in shelters around the city.
The alert has been up since Saturday with temperatures dipping below zero nightly.
Irene Jaakson with the Greater Vancouver Shelter Strategy says eight locations around the city have opened their doors the last five nights.
“That’s a total of 197 mats that people could use. We have not been at full capacity, and we have not had to turn people away which is good news,” she says.
She says the temperature is very, very cold. “It really poses a quite a severe health and safety risk to the homeless and we want them to come in from the outdoors,” Jaakson adds.
Police also have the authority to move homeless people inside if they think they’re at risk.
According to the latest homeless count, the number of people living on the street doubled in 2012 compared with 2011.
