Cold weather shelter beds open as temperature drops
Posted February 3, 2014 10:24 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The temperatures have already begun to drop as the Lower Mainland heads into a cold snap this week.
The Vancouver Shelter Society is taking the initiative when it comes to keeping the homeless population warm as the cold weather creeps in.
James Pratt with the society says more spaces are being pressed into service because of the weather alert.
“We’re looking at an additional 384 spaces across the region at 17 different sites. They are in existing shelters as well as in church sites and community centres and accessible locations throughout the region. It’s very much a community based response.”
The beds will remain open until temperatures go up.
There are already 1,295 regular shelter spots and 235 all-winter spots for a total 1,530 beds across Metro Vancouver.
Pratt says they’re making room for the new spots wherever they can.
“Those are mat spaces, they’re no-frills, they’re overnight spaces just to get them in out of the cold to keep them safe.”
It’s up to each individual municipality to decide at what temperature they will cancel the cold weather warnings.
You can call 211 anywhere in Metro Vancouver to get the location of the emergency beds.
