Abbotsford cooling centres aim to help homeless during heatwave
Posted June 22, 2021 1:51 pm.
Last Updated June 22, 2021 8:15 pm.
ABBOTSFORD (NEWS 1130) – With inland highs getting into the 30s this weekend, the City of Abbotsford is opening a pair of cooling centres to help the homeless cope with the heatwave.
“These shelters are staffed full-time by experienced, trained outreach workers from CEDAR Outreach Society, in collaboration with a variety of other wonderful outreach organizations,” said Sgt. Kevin Murray with Abbotsford Police.
Some businesses have complained about homeless people seeking shelter beneath their awnings.
“One of the issues we’ve had is commercial enterprise complaining about homeless loitering on their properties. One of the ways we can reduce those calls is to have a central or, in this case, two locations — one on the east and one on the west sides of town,” Murray said.
— City of Abbotsford (@City_Abbotsford) June 21, 2021
One of the cooling centres is located in the parking lot at Seven Oaks Alliance Church on Gladwin Road. The other is at a city-owned parking lot at 2495 West Railway Street.
“Our very first day was Sunday and turnout was very low. That’s probably because nobody knows about them. Even if we … make the media aware, that doesn’t necessarily reach the population base that we want to reach,” Murray said.
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The centres will provide shade, water, and misting fans to help beat the heat. They will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on days when an Extreme Weather Alert has been declared.
With files from Monika Gul
