The Lookout Emergency Aid Society is seeking the city's permission to operate an extreme weather shelter in New Westminster.
The society has applied for a temporary use permit that would allow it to operate an extreme weather shelter at 28 Sixth St. until Oct. 31, 2015. The permit would allow the society to provide shelter for homeless people in the basement of the Cliff Block during extreme weather events.
A staff report to city council notes that extreme weather response programs are funded by B.C. Housing to reduce the risk of illness, injury and death among homeless people during extreme weather events. The program usually operates between Nov. 1 and March 31.
New Westminster city council has given notice that it will consider the temporary use permit at its Oct. 22 meeting, and would consider waiving the fee for the temporary use permit because the program provides a community benefit by protecting homeless people whose lives would be at risk during extreme weather events. It asked that the Lookout Emergency Aid Society consult with downtown residents prior to that date.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr said the proposal wouldn't result in an increase in shelters during extreme weather, as the service has been provided in the past by the Salvation Army at its Sixth Street facility.
"They have served notice they will no longer be providing that service," he said. "It is a service being picked up by Lookout."
The Salvation Army has been providing the extreme weather response program shelter at 325 Sixth St. since 2004/2005.
"This shelter was housed in the gymnasium and could accommodate up to 40 men and women. For the first four years, the program operated at or near capacity," stated the report. "Over the past four years, there has been declining usage, which is likely associated with increased permanent shelter capacity and the development of new supported housing in New Westminster and elsewhere in Metro Vancouver."
According to city staff, the typical number of people using the shelter was between 10 and 15.
Although the Salvation Army has indicated it no longer plans to operate the extreme weather shelter, it is committed to operating the program until another operator is in place and the program is up and running. Staff note that the Salvation Army cited resource and space constraints as its reasons for not continuing to operate the program.
Lookout Emergency Aid Society is proposing to accommodate up to 30 men and women from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. during extreme weather events. The society already operates 15 permanent emergency shelter beds for men, and 87 transitional, supported and independent housing units for men and women in New Westminster.
Extreme weather conditions that are considered severe enough to pose a threat to the life and/or health of homeless people include: temperatures at or below -2 degrees Celsius, or 0 to -2 degrees Celsius with a wind-chill; heavy rain in combination with low temperatures (close to 0 degrees Celsius); five or more days of rain, which makes it hard for people to stay dry; significant snow accumulations; and significant wind storms that create a risk for people living in wooded areas.
