Hot or cold, rainy or sunny, the season for the Sunshine Coast's extreme weather emergency shelter is over, leaving the region's homeless population with few to no options for accommodation.
Funding for the shelter came to an end March 31, but homelessness advocates on the Coast said they would continue to push for a more permanent solution.
"That shelter program is over, but it doesn't mean that the need or the extreme weather is over, as we have experienced the crazy winds or temperatures, even the snow on April Fool's Day," said Rev. Clarence Li of St. Hilda's Anglican Church.
Li characterized the need for a permanent homeless shelter on the Coast as a "strong" one.
A more permanent shelter would not only help the area's homeless population escape the elements year-round, it would give advocates an opportunity to help create lasting solutions through employment and by providing help to find accommodation, Li said.
After moving the extreme weather emergency shelter to Sechelt this winter, the number of users taking advantage of the service had notably risen. According to Li, on nights when the shelter was activated, a consistent seven or eight people could be expected to spend the night.
"Homelessness has a face, has a name, has stories to share," Li said. "It was a really positive experience for the people of St. Hilda's."
In the meantime, the Homelessness Advisory Com-mittee (HAC) is looking for more permanent solutions.
To further this aim, the HAC has been engaging local governments. After receiving grants from both the Town of Gibsons and District of Sechelt in the amount of $1,000 each, the group said it is planning to take the case to the Sunshine Coast Regional District on April 15.
"The homelessness outreach project is working very hard to ensure that shelter emergency accommodation will be available to anyone experiencing immediate homelessness over the summer months," said program co-ordinator Jim White.
