The City of Cranbrook is ready to open extreme weather shelters for unhoused residents in case temperatures drop to potentially harmful levels.
The B.C. government, through BC Housing, works with the city, non-profit organizations, and community groups to provide shelter for unhoused residents.
This can come in one of three forms: year-round shelters, temporary shelters and extreme weather shelters.
Cranbrook currently has a temporary shelter with 45 longer-term rooms and 17 overnight rooms.
Marcel Germer, Cranbrook’s Social Development Coordinator, says there will be options to keep people warm in extremely cold temperatures.
“We are partnering with ANKORS and Christ Church Anglican to open an extreme weather shelter,” said Germer.
“When it reaches a temperature of -15, that triggers the opening of the emergency shelter.”
Germer says unhoused residents face additional challenges in cold weather.
“When you live outside in the winter, it became more of a hardship every day, from trying to keep your water thawed, to staying warm, to keeping to feet dry,” explained Germer.
“We need places for them to go, simply to save lives. It’s a great place for people to go to dry out their clothes and boots and gives them somewhere safe to prepare for the day when they’re out there in the cold.”
The emergency extreme weather shelter can be opened any time the temperature dips below -15 degrees between November 4 and April 15.
The shelter will be open from 7 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., with alternate shelter options available during the day, such as the Public Library and Western Financial Place.
“The library is open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday,” said the City.
“Western Financial Place is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily excluding any statutory holidays.”
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