City councillors in Victoria and Nanaimo are advocating for permanent seasonal shelters during the winter instead of shelters that open only during extreme weather. The current program is confusing for those in need and difficult to staff. Opening the shelters every night during winter could make the jobs more attractive and address staffing challenges.
City councillors in Victoria and Nanaimo are calling for permanent seasonal shelters during the winter instead of shelters that open only during extreme weather, a program one politician called “inherently flawed.”
The shelters are also difficult to staff, because the overnight shifts are sporadic and often at short notice. Opening the shelters every night during winter would likely make the jobs more attractive, and could ease staffing challenges, she said. B.C. Housing released a list Friday of indoor shelter spaces opening in the province as of Nov. 1 that included two extreme weather shelters in Victoria. There are 30 spaces opening at the Salvation Army at 525 Johnson St. and another 30 at SOLID Outreach Society at 1056 North Park St. Those 60 spaces are in addition to 275 year-round shelter spaces opening Nov. 1 in Victoria as part of the province’s funding of 5,000 shelter spaces throughout B.C. this winter.
Fred Cameron, director of programs at SOLID, said he supports the idea of converting extreme weather shelters to seasonal shelters open all winter. Victoria’s wet, windy weather makes it challenging to be outside for prolonged periods even when temperatures are above freezing, he said. He said SOLID would be interested in opening its extreme weather shelter all winter if the province would fund the spaces for the winter.
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