Still no winter shelter as record-breaking cold set to strike Comox Valley

The Comox Valley is bracing for severe weather on Thursday night (Jan. 11), with temperatures expected to plummet with windchill reaching up to -18 C.

If holds true, this could break a 53-year-old record for the coldest temperature ever recorded on that date.

Meanwhile, the region is still waiting to see the opening of an emergency weather shelter for its unhoused population.

To address the ongoing crisis, Cari McIntyre, co-ordinator at the Comox Valley Emergency Program, is reminding the public of the existence of . These centres are set to activate on Thursday, Jan. 11, and will subsequently be scheduled to open when temperatures fall below -4 C or in the event of significant snowfall.

(Warming centres do not have beds; shelters do.)

Courtenay: Lower Native Sons Hall (entrance at back) located at 360 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay - Open from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am

Denman Island: Denman Island Community Hall located at 1196 Northwest Rd, Denman Island - Service provider on site 24-hours

Hornby Island: Joe King Ball Park located at 3875 Central Rd, Hornby Island - Service provider on-site during daytime hours

Despite these efforts, over 200 unhoused individuals still lack shelter in the Comox Valley. This trend shows no signs of being resolved soon, as there is currently no viable option for a shelter on the table.

A written statement by BC Housing provided to the Record reads: 鈥淭he Comox Valley does not have an Emergency Weather Response shelter scheduled to open this winter season.鈥�

The same statement further mentions that funding is still available if the region successfully identifies suitable sites or secures shelter providers.

Many called but none chosen

Angela Fletcher, the co-ordinator for the Coalition to End Homelessness, who led this year鈥檚 task force to find a temporary winter shelter, noted that this year鈥檚 search proved more challenging than expected.

鈥淲e have been looking collectively, since October of last year, trying to identify a location that would be a large enough and suitable extreme weather shelter,鈥� said Fletcher. 鈥淚 feel like we鈥檝e turned over every single stone that we can, but we haven鈥檛 been able to come up with a location.鈥�

Heavily relying on citizens鈥� input, and despite having a 鈥渓ong list of locations,鈥� Fletcher highlighted the existence of numerous roadblocks preventing these places from becoming shelters.

Constraints such as compliance with fire codes, availability of bathrooms, and sufficient size to accommodate a considerable number of people are some of the many criteria that a place must meet.

By the same token, Fletcher also emphasized that the funding provided by BC Housing is often limited and doesn鈥檛 cover all necessary renovation fees required for these locations to meet the aforementioned requirements.

Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells, who works in tandem with Fletcher, told the Record that the lack of opportunity, in comparison with prior years, makes this search all the more trying.

鈥淣ormally a faith-based group would step forward or help facilitate things,鈥� said Wells. 鈥淭he challenge that we鈥檝e had was finding a location that鈥檚 suitable just has been very difficult this year. We haven鈥檛 had people stepping up in organizations that have the space.鈥�

When asked why the Valley鈥檚 municipal governments and local actors have been dependent on public involvement, Wells responded that this is indicative of the provincial government鈥檚 flawed system when it comes to sheltering.

鈥淚鈥檝e spoken with our MLA Ronna-Rea Leonard that our province really needs to modernize how the sheltering process unfolds,鈥� said Wells. 鈥�(These systems) have been running on the backs of volunteers and communities when it鈥檚 truly the province鈥檚 mandate to be looking after these things.鈥�

鈥淧eople need a place to stay when it鈥檚 -4 C, (but) they also need a place when it鈥檚 0 C or over 10 C.鈥�

The Record reached out to Ronna-Rea Leonard, MLA for Courtenay-Comox, for comments on the ongoing sheltering crisis.

鈥淛ust this morning I had a conversation with the minister鈥檚 office about the kinds of solutions that are being looked at now (in) dealing with this housing crisis,鈥� said Leonard. 鈥淚n the meantime, we need the community to find the location that will provide the shelter to people (so they) aren鈥檛 dying of the cold.鈥�

Leonard expressed her frustration with the current state of things and the lack of solutions.

鈥淚t鈥檚 still being worked on and things are progressing, but it is all about the accountability for BC housing to do things in a fair way,鈥� said Leonard. 鈥淚t slows the process down but it鈥檚 getting there. (Still) it doesn鈥檛 solve the problem for tonight.鈥�

鈥斺赌斺赌�

Wells and Fletcher remind the public that the call for suitable shelter locations is still ongoing. To propose a potential site, reach out to Angela Fletcher of the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness at comoxvalleyhousing@gmail.com or 250-218-3752.

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