Over 6,000 shelter spaces for unhoused people coming to B.C. this winter: province

As B.C. weather gets colder, the province is making an effort to give more unhoused people a warm space to stay this season.

In an announcement Monday, the province says it is funding 6,085 shelter spaces through BC housing in 59 communities.

“This season, a 22 per cent increase in spaces available compared to this time last year,” it said in a release Monday.

The Ministry of Housing says these include permanent, temporary and extreme-weather response shelters, as well as ‘Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing’ (HEARTH) shelter spaces.

The ministry says permanent shelters are typically open 24 hours a day throughout the year regardless of the weather. They provide services and meals to guests.

4,086 permanent shelter spaces are operating throughout B.C. according to the province.

It says temporary shelters are open every night and many operate 24 hours a day and provide meals. Winter temporary shelters are seasonal and will operate until March 31, 2025, or April 30, 2025.

There will be 1,169 temporary shelter spaces open throughout B.C., the majority of which opened on Nov. 1.

The ministry says 668 spaces will open overnight when and if a community issues an extreme-weather alert such as during cold temperatures, snow or heavy rain. These are considered Extreme-weather response (EWR) shelters.

It says “Communities determine what weather conditions necessitate an extreme-weather alert in co-ordination with BC Housing.”

EWR shelters are avaialble from Oct. 15, 2024 to April 15, 2025.

Finally, the province says it’s working with municipalities throughout B.C. to open new HEARTH-funded sites which include “temporary housing options as well as shelter spaces.” It says there are 162 HEARTH shelter spaces open.

“In the coming weeks and months, BC Housing will finalize operating agreements to open more shelter spaces this season as communities identify additional sites,” the ministry said in its announcement.

It also says that through the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, the province provides guidance and reimbursements to local authorities and First Nations for opening emergency warming spaces during the winter to keep people safe.

“These centres help people warm up during cold weather and provide information about how to safely stay warm. Communities may be reimbursed for eligible costs to establish and operate warming centres, such as facility rental and incremental utility costs.”