More temporary shelter beds for Vancouver
On December 16, Premier Gordon Campbell and Mayor Gregor Robertson announced a partnership between the Province, the City of Vancouver and the Streetohome Foundation to provide $1.5 million to create up to 200 temporary over-night shelter beds for homeless people living in Vancouver. Each partner is providing $500,000 to fund the temporary overnight shelter beds until the end of March. These beds are in addition to Vancouver’s 687 beds funded through the Emergency Shelter Program, and 498 beds provided through the Extreme Weather Response Program.
The temporary beds are in three locations across Vancouver. The shelters were able to open within days of the funding announcement and could not have come at a better time: the freezing temperatures and record amounts of snow in the ensuing weeks made the need for the beds critical. The shelters accepted shopping carts and/or pets in a bid to encourage people who are normally reticent of staying in shelters to come in out of the cold. All of the shelters have been operating over capacity.
Bedbug information for Emergency Shelters
Dealing with bedbug infestations in emergency shelters is a significant challenge. To assist shelters, BC Housing asked providers to share their strategies to prevent and respond to bedbug outbreaks.
BC Housing’s Emergency Shelter Program has compiled a resource list of suppliers and basic tips to support shelters in reducing the incidence of bedbugs. To access the information sheet, please visit: BC Housing's Bedbug Information Sheet