RainCity Housing says its two homeless shelters were running at – and sometimes over – capacity during the blast of winter weather earlier this month.
A series of storms rolled through the area from Jan. 10 to 17 bringing high winds, overnight lows below zero, snow and rain.
The year-round homeless shelter in Sechelt and the winter response shelter in Gibsons stayed open throughout, even though the weather forced many other public services to close.
In an email to Coast Reporter, RainCity’s Nick Gaskin said the Sechelt shelter, on Wharf Avenue, which runs at or near capacity most nights, had all 20 beds full during the storms as well as people dropping in to rest, warm up and get supplies.
The Gibsons shelter, on South Fletcher, hosted as many as 16 people at the height of the bad weather.
Gaskin said shelter staff went “above and beyond” to keep the doors open, dealing with bad road conditions to get to work and then volunteering to drive shelter clients who had jobs to make sure they got to work as well.
He said the biggest challenge was ensuring people could get to the Gibsons shelter when Sunshine Coast Transit wasn’t running.
Gaskin said Coast residents also stepped up with donations, meals, and helping spread the word that the shelters were open.
“During the cold weather, folks were still dropping off blankets, sleeping bags, clothes and raingear to our programs. These items really helped us to support our folks, especially on the coldest nights,” Gaskin said.
The Sunshine Coast’s next homeless count will take place March 6, and organizers are still looking for volunteers. For more information email [email protected].
