Temporary shelters may be opened as temperatures dip in Metro Vancouver

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Prepare for a frosty week around Metro Vancouver.

Environment Canada is warning temperatures are going to fall well below freezing.

Lows of minus six are expected to arrive by Tuesday and last a few days.

Vancouver City Councillor Kerry Jang says city shelters are full, but if someone needs a place to stay all efforts will be made to help.

The Greater Vancouver Shelter Strategy, which looks after the shelters across the region, will likely be opening up several more temporary shelters. These are usually shelters in community centres, church basements or other temporary facilities. They’re often only open for a few days at a time.”

Jang says no one will be turned away. “Somewhere, somehow we will find them a space for the evening. It may not be in the most convenient place for them but we don’t want them outside where they’re at risk.”

He says the city opened a new 40-bed shelter over a week ago on Pender Street in the Grandview Woodlands, which has already reached capacity. “We place our shelters in areas where there’s a known homeless population to serve the local needs. So far, it’s been pretty quiet and people are inside and warm.”

Jang says since the shelter strategy began, especially in Vancouver, the death rate among homeless people has been cut in half.

 

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