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City of Nanaimo funds additional warming centre hours during cold snap

Arctic outflow has warming shelters open longer for Nanaimo’s unhoused population
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Hours for warming services have been extended at Nanaimo’s severe weather shelters as temperatures plummet from an arctic outflow. (News Bulletin file photo)

Plunging temperatures from an arctic outflow have motivated the City of Nanaimo to help people who need warming services to stay warm longer.

The city has provided money to existing organizations to extend hours for warming services, according to a press release.

Additional service hours have been added while it’s cold at 7-10 Club Society at St. Paul’s Anglican Church on Chapel Street, Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 30-31, which can take in 30 to 40 people at one time. The 7-10 is Open Monday to Friday and regular warming hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Unitarian Shelter offers 27 overnight shelter beds and, during extreme cold, offers daytime warming centre services to their shelter guests only.

Risebridge, responding to the cold, will operate 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 30. Regular warming hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily.

The Salvation Army has 35 overnight shelter beds and daytime access only for existing shelter guests, Samaritan Place has added five additional beds during extreme cold in addition to its existing 14 beds and St. Peter’s winter shelter now has 34 beds open 8 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Nanaimo’s community safety officers will be performing wellness checks until 2:30 a.m. and have been handing out warming supplies, cold weather clothing and hot drinks. RCMP members are also performing wellness checks, offering help and are co-ordinating their response with CSOs, noted the release.

“The City of Nanaimo, together with RCMP and service providers have worked together on a coordinated response to ensure the unhoused are cared for during cold weather temperatures,” said Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog in the release. “Council is grateful for the hard work of all those who made this happen and show care for those in need.”

Visit www.nanaimo.ca/goto/supports for a full list of drop-in and indoor meal services.



chris.bush@nanaimobulletin.com

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