Temporary winter shelter in Duncan gets funding from BC Housing

Shelter will run 24/7 from Nov. 16 to March 31 – From Ladysmith Chronicle – read the source article here

Funding is in place that will see a temporary winter shelter set up at the site of the former Ramada Inn, located at 140 Trans-Canada Hwy.

The Cowichan Valley Regional District announced that a local working group, comprised of the CVRD, City of Duncan, Municipality of North Cowichan, and the Cowichan Housing Association, has worked over the last year with BC Housing to secure funding for the shelter, which will operate from Nov. 15 through to March 31.

Subject to final budget and operating-agreement approval, the shelter will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing up to 24 spaces for individuals experiencing homelessness during the winter months.

“This announcement brings tremendous relief and hope to our community, as homelessness continues to be one of the most urgent challenges in the Cowichan region,” said Kate Segall, chair of the CVRD.

“Unlike our previous emergency warming centre, which opened only during extreme weather, this new 24/7 shelter will offer safety, warmth, and dignity every day through the harshest months of the year. We are deeply grateful to BC Housing for their funding commitment, and to all the local partners whose dedication made this possible.”

Last winter, an emergency warming centre was operated in the rear parking lot of the Ramada Hotel site, but it was only open and operational on 103 nights during the season’s most harsh winter-weather conditions.

Temporary winter shelters have a number of benefits over emergency warming centres, including that they provide more stable and predictable sheltering to the most vulnerable members of the community through the coldest months of the year.

Unlike an emergency warming centre, temporary winter shelters also provide an improved level of care because people are able to access the shelter on days and nights when it is above 2 C, but still cold and potentially unsafe.

Another benefit of a temporary winter shelter is the reduction of issues associated with the congregation of people in the vicinity of the premises because the shelter is open daily and there is more certainty around availability and access to the shelter.

As a condition of the temporary-use permit for the shelter that was issued by the City of Duncan in September, the operator will be required to provide a minimum of 12 hours per night of neighbourhood patrols to deter unwanted behaviours within a 150-metre radius of the perimeter of the Ramada, except west of the Trans-Canada Highway.

“Beyond the temporary winter shelter, the CVRD, through Emergency Management Cowichan, will continue to support smaller communities and community organizations across the region in activating emergency warming centres as needed during extreme conditions,” the CVRD said.