Penticton is set to engage with the B.C. government and explore potential funding options for an extension of the city's temporary winter shelter on Warren Avenue East.

If funding is available, city council will make a final decision on whether to grant an extension of the 40-bed facility on March 18.

"This community, our staff, council and mayor, continually fight the fight and BC Housing is the worst partner ever," said Coun. Ryan Graham. "They hold massive landholdings in this community and they're doing nothing with it."

He said that the shelter's neighbours in the industrial area where it operates have largely embraced the facility.

"Since the inception of this shelter, I have received zero corespondents of any complaints."

The temporary shelter opened in November 2024 and is located at 402 Warren Ave. East. 

Since its opening, the shelter has supported 65 individuals, with 11 transitioning into permanent housing, according to the city, which is the leaseholder of the property. 

Currently, operations at the facility are scheduled to end on March 31, without an extension of operations.

Coun. Helena Konanz said she supports engaging with agencies like BC Housing, Interior Health, and any other provincial representatives, but believes she wouldn't support an extension of the temporary winter shelter, as it would then not be temporary anymore. 

"How temporary is this going to be, if we were to extend it?" asked Coun. Isaac Gilbert. "I'm all for it because of its success and seeing 11 people getting housed, but I also want to see a timeline..we want to see significant investment from BC Housing, instead of them saying they'll provide funding for a temporary solution."

Mayor Julius Bloomfield, meanwhile, acknowledged the people currently staying at the shelter.

"I understand the concerns of fellow councillors but I also have extreme concerns over if this closes down, where do the 40 people go?" Bloomfield said.

"Of course, we only want to have one shelter in Penticton. Ideally, there wouldn't be any shelter but we don't have enough housing to deal with that."

On March 18, staff will report back to council with provincial funding options, if any. That's when municipal politicians will be prompted to decide on whether to extend the shelter's operations.

Discussions related to the potential extended time period have been forwarded to the Public Safety Advisory Committee.

"We need to keep the pressure on BC Housing to provide enough housing so that we don't have this discussion in the future, but in the meantime, we have a situation that we need to react to," Bloomfield said.