Still no shelter in Salmon Arm as cold snap hits | 24CA News
Greg Kyllo says the present scenario for homeless folks in Salmon Arm, B.C., is “offensive.”
Salmon Arm’s solely homeless shelter closed completely on the finish of May.
Now as folks camp within the snow and a chilly snap hits, the Shuswap Liberal MLA is blasting BC Housing for failing to arrange a brand new shelter house, regardless of ample discover.
“BC Housing has known for over seven months now that there was a need for BC Housing to identify alternative shelter spaces and here we are – it’s the 19th of December, -24 temperatures, and still no shelter spaces in the community,” stated Kyllo.
Read extra:
Salmon Arm, B.C. nonetheless with out homeless shelter for the winter
Read More
Last month the Crown company stated it had funding accessible however had not been in a position to safe a location for a alternative shelter regardless of usually looking out.
Since November, Kyllo has reached out to BC Housing and the ministers accountable suggesting attainable options together with utilizing the kind of transportable lodging models usually used for work camps.
“It is really unfortunate. A solution is available and could be acted upon. Why BC Housing is failing to act and putting unfortunate individuals and those that are hard to house out in the cold is beyond me,” Kyllo stated.
Global News spoke to a camp housing provider that Kyllo had advised to BC Housing in November. That provider confirmed BC Housing by no means contacted him.
In an announcement, BC Housing stated it is aware of “a shelter is needed” and that’s why it’s at the moment “working on finalizing a lease on a site for an Emergency Weather Response mat program.”
The Crown company stated it’s working to have the mat program open early within the new 12 months.
Kyllo believes the mat program might open as early as Jan. 1, however feels that’s nonetheless too lengthy for folks to attend given the present circumstances.
“(It’s) cold comfort to residents out in the cold to be hearing that a solution is still 12 days away,” Kyllo stated.
Campers are receiving a number of donations from the general public however are going through difficult circumstances.
Environment Canada is predicting a low of -24 C in a single day Monday and warning there might be a threat of frostbite.
Ryan Allen, who’s at the moment dwelling in a tent, stated, to maintain heat, he clothes up, runs a propane heater, or sits by a fireplace.
There can also be a daytime warning facility.
That facility is run by the Salvation Army and operates on weekdays between 9 a.m. and a couple of p.m.
It affords espresso and permits folks to do their laundry and take a bathe.
Kyllo stated the Salvation Army “has been fantastic,” however identified the daytime warming facility nonetheless leaves folks with nowhere to go in a single day or on weekends.
Beyond the mat program, BC Housing stated it is usually searching for a everlasting shelter house.
“Everyone deserves a safe and secure place to stay, which is why we are searching for a site that can be operational year-round to avoid further shelter relocations. We will update the community as soon as a location is identified. This is a very difficult situation and the last thing we want is for people to be without a safe indoor space,” stated the BC Housing assertion.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
