As winter nears, the city’s seasonal and emergency shelters are ready to house the homeless on cold nights and in extreme weather.
While there are 175 permanent shelter beds, along with about 40 emergency mats, available throughout the year, the seasonal shelters double the capacity.
On Wednesday, the province announced the annual extreme weather shelter protocol is now in effect until March.
Up to 145 beds in Greater Victoria are made available on nights when cold, wet and windy weather puts the city’s homeless at risk.
“The majority of the extreme weather here is a combination of cold, wind and rain,” said Jen Bacon, regional co-ordinator of the program.
This year, the criteria has changed for opening the three shelter locations — the Salvation Army on Johnson Street, Our Place on Pandora Avenue and the Native Friendship Centre on Regina Avenue.
An opening can be triggered at -1C, as opposed to -2C in previous years. Last year, the shelters were activated 34 times. An email alert is sent out to service providers and media when that happens.
Another change this year is that the Salvation Army will be able to accommodate women as well as men.
The Sooke shelter location will not open this year, as Bacon said only two men used it each night last year. Another place to sleep will be found for them, she said.
Bacon said a successful change in the program in recent years has been to open beds in all shelters when an alert is triggered, depending on the need.
“It’s so people know where to go and don’t have to wonder which shelter is open,” she said. “Creating diverse access and options for people is important. The goal is to make sure we have a safe place for everyone.”
Bacon noted the various shelter spaces accommodate different needs — catering, for example, to those with lots of gear or pets, or those who want a place to stay dry but not in a lights-out environment.
Out of the Rain, a seasonal youth shelter run out of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, opened 30 beds in late October and will operate until April.
On Nov. 1, Cool Aid Society opened its winter shelter at the Downtown Activity Centre on Pandora Avenue. The gymnasium offers 40 mats every night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Joann Connolly of Cool Aid said the co-ed shelter is open to those with pets or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but that the short hours require a lights-out and quiet atmosphere for people to get a good sleep. The organization operates three permanent shelters with more support services.
“The first night of the [winter shelter] season, we saw a dip at our regular shelter, but then it was back up … We’re always at 100 per cent with overflow mats,” said Connolly. Shelter users can also do free laundry at the Rock Bay location, which is always busy. The shelter is open 24 hours for people to warm up and keep dry, even if they don’t get a mat.
