A winter storm rolled into the valley Tuesday, marking the time of year that the men and women running Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 shelters start to scramble.
There are rarely enough beds to house the city香蕉视频直播檚 growing homeless population during the coldest days of winter and Inn From the Cold and the Gospel Mission routinely announced they reached capacity in years past as winter hit.
In recent years the Gospel Mission ran the mat program, squeezing more people into the facility than it naturally holds for the worst days.
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香蕉视频直播淚t put pressure on our facility by putting so many people into a small space,香蕉视频直播� said Randy Benson, who is the executive director of the Gospel Mission.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 just not the same degree of comfort.香蕉视频直播�
This year, however, there香蕉视频直播檚 a new service provider in town and it香蕉视频直播檚 offered some relief.
The building that once housed A&B Sound music store on Leon Avenue in downtown Kelowna was converted into Cornerstone, a homeless shelter and it opened Nov. 30.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really lowered the stress level here,香蕉视频直播� said Benson.
香蕉视频直播淏etween the two of us, when we communicate, anybody who needs shelter we are able to keep up with that.香蕉视频直播�
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The Gospel Mission has 90 beds and Cornerstone has 75.
Even still, said Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 John Howard Society executive director Gaelene Askeland, there is a need for people who have yet to come in from the cold. There香蕉视频直播檚 hope that need can be met later this week when some of their clientele move into permanent housing, courtesy of a partnership between the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Housing and the Gospel Mission.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e been full since we opened,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e doing our best to keep the folks we have in there clean, dry, warm, fed and housed.香蕉视频直播�
Each day there are 香蕉视频直播渉iccups and bumps香蕉视频直播� as they nail down a routine, but Askeland said overall it香蕉视频直播檚 been running well.
香蕉视频直播淲e have a great team of staff who are doing a great job and we香蕉视频直播檙e doing the best with what we have to work with,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e grateful we have the space we do香蕉视频直播very day is another opportunity to keep people alive.香蕉视频直播�
Hazardous winter conditions were expected across the Okanagan starting Tuesday and moving into Wednesday.
香蕉视频直播淎 moist Pacific frontal system will bring heavy snow to the southwestern Interior,香蕉视频直播� according to an Environment Canada alert issued Tuesday.
General snowfall accumulation of 20 to 25 cm is expected in Merritt and Kelowna while near Westbank and Peachland, snowfall totals could reach 35 cm by Wednesday morning.
Meteorologists report a deepening Pacific low-pressure system will track across northern Washington state.
香蕉视频直播淭his system will combine plentiful moisture with cool northerly winds near the surface,香蕉视频直播� according to Environment Canada. 香蕉视频直播淭he result will be heavy snow continuing through Wednesday morning for most communities in the southwestern interior and Kootenays.香蕉视频直播�
