Castlegar's temporary winter shelter at 1660 Columbia Ave. has received a funding extension in order to operate until BC Housing's new shelter opens in the fall.
Castlegar was set to have a seventh-month gap in shelter services when the Out of the Cold shelter closed on March 31 due to the end of annual funding from BC Housing. The shelter's closure would have left 10 people out on the street until the new one opens. But it seems that a very passionate and forceful plea from Castlegar's mayor and council paid off.
At a Feb. 3 council meeting, council told a BC Housing representative that they were frustrated that BC Housing would first say that Castlegar is in need of a year-round shelter in their application to open a new shelter, but then refuse to fund the current shelter until that happens.
The BC Housing representative made it clear that there were only two funding streams available for shelters – temporary winter shelters and permanent shelters. Keeping the current shelter open past winter would not fall into either category.
Castlegar Community Services, the contract holder for the shelter, also continued to ask BC Housing to find a way to avoid the service gap.
CCS's executive director Reidu Rosi says that Interior Health also backed the plea to keep the shelter open.
Just days away from the scheduled closure, BC Housing made an exception and decided to fund the shelter.
Rosi said CCS had just finished preparing layoff notices for all of the shelter's employees when the news came.
"We are all just so happy and joyous," said Rosi. "It was just a huge relief for everyone, but mostly for our clients that were feeling like, 'What outdoor area, what bush am I going to go to?'"
The ability to maintain operations also means that CCS won't have to start over with new staff when the permanent shelter opens, allowing for a continuation of client relationships and supports.
An opening date has yet to be set for the new shelter planned for 2245 6th Ave.
