City providing additional warming services during cold weather

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed January 11, 2024 11:02 AM

Summary

With temperatures dropping due to arctic outflow beginning Thursday night, the City of Nanaimo is assisting people in need of warming services. The City will provide emergency Provincial funding for existing organizations to extend their hours of service. City staff and RCMP members will be on the street increasing coverage of wellness checks and providing warming supplies.

Additional service hours are as follows:

• Island Crisis Care Society (2025 Bowen Road) will be open 24 hours a day, starting at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, for the duration of extreme cold temperatures and can assist up to 60 people at one time. (Regular hours of operation are daily from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
• Risebridge Society (520 Prideaux Street), will operate from 7 p.m. to 4 p.m. (closed from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 11, for the duration of extreme cold temperatures. This location can assist up to 30 individuals identifying as women only; all are welcome between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. (Regular hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

The City of Nanaimo provides funding to Island Crisis Care Society, Risebridge Society, and the 7-10 Club Society for daytime warming centres for people experiencing homelessness.

The following services are also available:

• The 7-10 Club Society operates a daytime warming centre from 9 am to 7 pm daily for up to 30 individuals at one time.
• The Unitarian Shelter offers 27 co-ed overnight shelter beds.
• Salvation Army has 35 overnight shelter beds for men.
• Samaritan Place has 14 overnight shelter beds for women.
• St Peter’s Winter Shelter has 35 co-ed overnight shelter beds open 8 pm to 7:30 am.

In addition, the City’s Community Safety Officers (CSO) will be working extended hours. CSOs will be handing out warming supplies, cold weather clothing and hot drinks as needed. RCMP members are also performing wellness checks, offering assistance and coordinating response with CSOs.

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) Transit will be providing complimentary rides to City of Nanaimo funded warming centres to assist individuals needing transportation to get out of the cold. As well, RDN Transit has provided the warming centres with free tickets for individuals requiring transportation to and from the warming centres on conventional buses in the City of Nanaimo.

Visit www.nanaimo.ca/goto/supports for a full list of services and supports available to people experiencing homelessness.

Link to Strategic Plan: Providing warming opportunities contributes to a livable community for all.

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