By Ashley Legassic

More temporary shelter beds to open in Kamloops today

Oct 31, 2018 | 2:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — With colder weather making its way across the province, the B.C. government is opening additional shelter spaces to ensure homeless people have access to a safe and warm place to stay.

“Temporary and extreme weather shelters are crucial to ensuring the health and safety of people living on the street and getting them out of the cold and wet weather,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in a news release. “These shelters not only have the potential to save lives — they also assist people in accessing the support and services they need to achieve housing stability.”

Beginning today, Nov. 1, there will be extra temporary shelter spaces available at the Emerald Shelter in Kamloops, Canadian Mental Health Association executive director for Kamloops, Christa Mullaly says. This will bring the total number of spaces to 55.

In partnership with municipalities and non-profits, the provincial government is providing more than 1,400 temporary shelter spaces and more than 750 extreme weather response shelter spaces.

All temporary shelter spaces will be open overnight and every night, with many open 24 hours each day, and providing meals. Many temporary shelter spaces have already opened for the season and more will continue to open beginning today.

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Additional extreme weather response spaces will be open from Nov. 1 to March 31, 2019, and will open when a community issues an extreme weather alert.

More temporary shelters and extreme weather shelters may be added throughout the season when needed and where appropriate.

The provincial government had previously stated in a news release on Oct. 31 that 40 temporary shelter spaces would be opening at 185 Royal Ave. today, but Mullaly has clarified that’s not the case.