Two Sidney residents are asking for the town’s support to create a temporary shelter for unhoused people during extreme cold weather.
Twice a week, Lois Ainey and Cheryl Applewhaite deliver hot soup, sandwiches, drinks and hygiene products to people in Sidney who are unhoused.
Watching people struggle to survive a cold, snowy snap last December led the two women to start thinking about solutions.
“Last winter was particularly hard on those who are unhoused. Many of them spent their days tucked into their blankets or sleeping bags just trying to stay warm,” Ainey said.
The two proposed the idea of a cold weather shelter to Sidney council Monday night, asking for support to fund a program that would operate overnight during extreme cold and to find a location and community organization to run it.
They envision a heated space with cots, washrooms, meals, and first aid and security on hand.
Ainey and Applewhaite estimate there are about 15 people in Sidney who are unhoused and that a cold weather shelter would be needed for two to three cold snaps lasting a few days each.
Council referred Ainey and Applewhaite to the town’s fire chief and other staff, to discuss their proposal.
Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith said the number of people experiencing homelessness in Sidney fluctuates because of the town’s proximity to the Swartz Bay ferry terminal.
B.C. Housing works with municipalities to open extreme weather shelters where needed, and in the capital region, those shelters are located in Victoria, where there are more people who are unhoused, he said.
“When temperatures drop in Sidney, our emergency management staff, our bylaw enforcement officers and Sidney-North Saanich RCMP connect with vulnerable people in our community to check on their wellness and discuss options for their safety. If there’s a desire to stay at a warming station, we ensure transportation is not a barrier,” McNeil-Smith said.
Sidney’s fire chief will be reaching out to Ainey and Applewhaite to discuss the logistics of their proposal, he said.
The City of Victoria activates warming centres during extreme weather when the life, health and safety of residents are at risk, and there are no other shelter options to escape the elements.
Temperatures below zero, snow accumulation, freezing rain or sleet or sustained high winds can trigger the activation of warming centres.
Organizations operating the extreme weather shelters have faced challenges in staffing, because the overnight shifts are sporadic with little to no notice, and are sometimes unable to open during extreme weather due to a lack of staff.
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