Campbell River’s Warming Centre has provided respite from the cold temperatures for up to 70 people between Jan. 10 and 18.
The centre, located in the city’s Community Centre, welcomed between 20 and 70 people per night, City Manager Elle Brovold said.
“Obviously, the nights when it’s been really cold, we got up to 70 that night, the one night it was like minus eight,” Brovold said, “and then the other nights, when it hasn’t been as cold, we’ve seen about 20 people and that’s unique visitors; so, whether they come in right when we open and kind of stay for the whole time or whether they pop in at three o’clock just to get some soup and warm up and then they leave.”
The centre is operating under a different mandate than when it was put into service last year, Brovold said. Last year, it was funded by BC Housing, so it was more a shelter than a warming centre. Cots were provided last year. This year, funding to operate 22 beds is going to Kwesa Place, the downtown gathering place operated by Laichwiltach Family Life Society.
In addition to the Warming Centre, the city fire department also activated a wellness team on several evenings that checked in on up to 65 individuals per night throughout the downtown core and at the Warming Centre, providing medical aid and risk reduction as needed.
There are approximately 197 people experiencing homelessness in Campbell River, according to a Point In Time homelessness count conducted last year. That number is up from 116 counted in 2021, a 69.8 per cent increase.
The city may provide an overnight warming centre, at the discretion of the City Manager, on evenings when the forecast reaches -4 degrees Celsius or below, according to Environment Canada, or when low temperatures, rainfall or storm events, trigger the City’s Extreme Weather Plan. The Warming Centre was available from 9 p.m. most nights it is open to 7 a.m. in the morning, although on Jan. 17 it opened at 11 p.m.
The Warming Centre is open to all for short-term stays. Visitors may bring pets on leashes and belongings, including bikes and carts. Hot drinks, snacks and seating are available, however, beds are not provided. The Warming Centre is staffed by individuals with experience working with people experiencing homelessness to ensure necessary support is available.
The Campbell River Community Centre is an appropriate facility to house the Warming Centre, Brovold said. It is owned by the city and therefore easy to get access to plus it’s in the right location being right downtown. It also has the space you need to ensure proper separation and it has washroom facilities. The centre is operated by volunteers and funded by the province.
Brovold said the city is happy to be in a position to provide the shelter from the inclement weather but the goal is to have facilities available for people on a more permanent basis instead of as an emergency response.
“We have been pretty strongly advocating to the provincial government and through BC housing to look at rapid response housing,” Brovold said. “So we’re continuing with discussions and hopefully, you know, that will be in place and will at least lessen the need of us having to open these emergency shelters.”
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