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City of Vancouver issues extreme weather alert, opens additional shelter space

The City of Vancouver has issued an extreme weather alert and is opening additional shelter space as the forecast calls a chilly overnight lows . The alert was issued on Thursday due to weather that, “feels like temperatures at or below 0°C.
Elana Shepert
extreme weather shelter
With temperature expected to dip overnight, the City of Vancouver is opening additional shelter spaces. File photo Dan Toulgoet

The City of Vancouver has issued an extreme weather alert and is opening additional shelter space as the forecast calls a chilly overnight lows.

The alert was issued on Thursday due to weather that, “feels like temperatures at or below 0°C.” An alert was also issued on Nov. 20.

Additional shelter beds are opened when extreme weather response alerts are issued by the Homelessness Services Association of B.C. (HSABC).

The city notes that additional shelter space is available tonight in Vancouver and instructs anyone sleeping outside to come to the following locations:

  • First Baptist Church – 969 Burrard St. Will open between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. for alerts called Monday through Thursday. They have 25 mats. (Will accommodate couples if available).
  • Directions Youth Services Centre – 1138 Burrard St. Will provide overnight accommodation to 15 youth (24 years of age and under). Open 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. for EWR program. Mats provided after midnight. Pets accepted to a maximum of four animals.
  • Evelyne Saller Centre – 320 Alexander St. Operates between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. on weekends. A variety of food options offered before going to sleep and in the morning. No pets. 40 spots.
  • The Salvation Army Belkin House – 555 Homer St. Opens at 11 p.m. Breakfast served at 7:30 a.m. 15 men and five women.
  • Walton Hotel Amenity Space – 261-B Hastings St. Operates between 8:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. Pet friendly program, some restrictions may apply.
  • Tenth Church – 11 West Tenth Ave. (at Ontario Street) Operates between 9:30 p.m. and 9:30 a.m. Monday through Friday nights. Light refreshments available. Small carts can be stored outside.

On March 4, the province approved additional operating funding to keep eight temporary shelters and nearly 240 beds open, until March 31, 2020.

Read the original article here.