Weather response shelters opening across B.C. ahead of winter season
Posted November 4, 2021 7:05 pm.
Last Updated November 4, 2021 7:11 pm.
With the cold, wet weather upon us, the provincial government is opening up more than 1,900 temporary shelter spaces and nearly 360 extreme weather response shelter spaces.
The temporary shelters will be open every night during the season, many of them around the clock, with meals provided.
Some have already opened, with more opening this month and later this season.
These shelters are in addition to the more than 2,200 permanent spaces available year-round in B.C..
The extreme weather response shelters, which typically open each year from Nov. 1 until Mar. 31, are available overnight when an extreme weather alert is issued.
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But this year, the province gave non-profit groups access to funding as early as Oct. 1 to allow shelters to open in communities already experiencing extreme weather.
“Communities outline what weather conditions warrant an extreme weather alert and determine the number of extreme weather spaces to activate on any night, depending on the capacity of existing shelters and the estimated need.
If needed, more shelters will be added throughout the winter.
