Over 1,900 temporary shelter spaces and nearly 360 extreme weather response shelter spaces in BC are beginning to open as the province heads into the winter season.
This includes four temporary spaces in PG, including a male-only temporary shelter operated by the PG Native Friendship Centre which offers 15 beds, and the Association Advocating for Women and Community (AWAC) which offers a temporary shelter for women with 10 beds.
These emergency shelters supplement more than 2,250 permanent year-round shelter spaces open throughout the province.
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.
The extreme weather response shelters, which typically open each year from November 1 until March 31, are available overnight when a community issues an extreme weather alert.
Non-profit groups in BC were given access to funding as early as October 1 to allow for shelters to open in communities already experiencing extreme weather conditions.
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.
These emergency shelter programs are created through partnerships with communities and non-profit groups throughout the province to provide temporary but immediate places to stay for anyone who is experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
More shelters may be added throughout the winter as needed.
A full list of these shelters can be found here.