Nanaimo warming centres extend hours during cold weather
Risebridge will be operating an overnight shelter with space for 30 women as city-funded warming centres respond to extreme cold weather by extending their hours today. File photo: Mick Swetman / CHLY 101.7FM
With temperatures forecast to drop to -10C overnight and a special weather statement for significant snowfall, two of the three warming centres funded by the City of Nanaimo will be extending their hours to help keep people out of the cold.
The warming center operated by Island Crisis Care Society at 2025 Bowen Road will be open 24 hours a day for the duration of extreme cold and has space for 60 people at a time.
The Risebridge Society will operate an overnight shelter for 30 people identifying as women from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for the duration of extreme cold at 520 Prideaux Street. Up to 48 people of all genders are welcome at the centre between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. The centre is closed between 4 p.m and 7 p.m.
The 7-10 Club Society will continue to operate a daytime warming centre from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily for up to 30 people at a time at 5 Victoria Road.
Nanaimo’s Acting Mayor Tyler Brown says that too many people in Nanaimo have nowhere to go to escape the cold.
“Whether you're cold, whether it's wet, and just general safety and well being, having no place to go in the day, no place to go at night is terrible. It's tragic,” he said.
Brown says that while he is grateful for the funding from the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness to extend the hours of the warming centres, he said the homeless crisis is the result of failed social policy at the provincial and federal level.
“While we appreciate the extreme weather response, and then in some of the other programs in place, I don't think anybody would disagree that the level of response is not responding to the magnitude of the problem,” he said.
The city’s Community Safety Officers will also be working extended hours during the cold weather handing out warming supplies, cold weather clothing and hot drinks. RCMP officers will be performing wellness checks, offering assistance and coordinating with the community safety officers.
The Regional District of Nanaimo Transit will be providing complimentary rides to city funded warming centres on routes 15 ,20, 30 and 40. It has also provided free bus tickets to warming centres for people who need to get the warming centres on other routes.
In a statement, BC Housing says it understands more safe, indoor spaces are needed for people experiencing homelessness, especially during the winter months. So far this season, the Province, through BC Housing, is funding more than 790 shelter spaces on Vancouver Island. BC Housing currently funds 98 shelter spaces at four overnight shelters in the city.
Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.