Castlegar’s temporary Out of the Cold shelter and outreach services have been granted an extension to operate beyond March 31.
Located at 1660 Columbia Avenue, the BC Housing-funded shelter usually closes annually at the end of March.
BC Housing was recently granted approval from the city to operate a new, permanent shelter at 2245 6th Avenue.
However, the facility won’t be operational until at least November 2025, leaving at least a seven-month gap in service between the closure of the Out of the Cold shelter and the opening of the new one.
This didn’t sit well with elected officials and community leaders, who urged BC Housing to consider extending its funding for the shelter until the new one is finished.
Reidun Rosi, Executive Director at the Castlegar and District Community Services Society (CDCCS), credits Castlegar City councillors for their advocacy, which led to this extension.
“City Council and the Mayor were quite vocal about the impacts on the community. It just wasn’t making sense to us. We’ve demonstrated that we need the shelter, and we’re getting this permanent shelter—we just couldn’t make sense of why we couldn’t just keep our current shelter open. Interior Health was also an advocate for keeping the shelter open; it was a group effort.”
This extension will allow at least 10 unhoused individuals per night the opportunity to be indoors with access to warmth, food, showers, and laundry, with Rossi adding that it will be an asset when it’s hot outside.
“Last year, we had to close on April 30, and it’s depressing and a horrible situation for the clients—and for the staff—to support individuals all winter long, only to have to tell them it’s time to leave. There are at least 10 clients now who will have shelter all summer, and that is also a huge impact. Heat exhaustion is very serious for people experiencing homelessness, and now they’ll be able to stay at our site with some air conditioning, which will help.”
Rosi sys Castlegar was one of two communities under consideration for an extension, which BC Housing will fund entirely.
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