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City providing overnight warming services during extreme cold temperatures

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed February 1, 2025 10:00 AM

Summary

With flurries and cold temperatures expected this weekend and into next week due to an arctic airflow, the City of Nanaimo is collaborating with the Regional District of Nanaimo and community partners to provide additional warming services for Nanaimo's unsheltered population. The City will access emergency Provincial funding to provide extreme weather relief spaces and enhance outreach supports.

Extreme weather response services include:

  • BC Housing Extreme Weather Response Shelter (6553 Portsmouth Drive) – will provide overnight emergency shelter services for up to 30 people. Open starting Thursday, January 30, 2025, 9:30 p.m. to 7 a.m.
  • Extreme Weather Relief Space (Centennial Building, 2290 Bowen Road) - will provide warming space for up to 80 people. Open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. starting Sunday, February 2, 2025, until further notice. Transportation to and from the site will be provided by the Regional District of Nanaimo Transit services.
  • Expanded Community Safety Officer supports - additional Community Safety Officer support will distribute survival supplies, hot beverages, conduct wellness checks with health partners and support individuals to get to warming services.

Additional overnight winter shelters and day-time warming services are also available:

  • The Drop-In Hub (55 Victoria Road, access via Nicol Street) - offers daytime warming between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 20 shelter beds from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., seven days per week.
  • St Peter’s Winter Shelter (301 Machleary Street) - provides 40 co-ed overnight shelter beds and is open 8 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., seven days per week.
  • Risebridge Temporary Winter Shelter (520 Prideaux Street) - provides 24 emergency co-ed shelter beds from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m., seven days a week.
  • Lobbies at City recreation centres and Vancouver Island Regional Libraries – provides space for daytime warming during regular business hours.

Existing year-round shelter beds available include:

  • Unitarian Shelter (595 Townsite) - provides 27 co-ed emergency shelter beds. Open daily, 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.
  • New Hope Centre (19 Nicol Street) - provides 34 shelter beds for men only. Open 24/7.
  • Samaritan Place (702 Nicol Street) - provides 14 shelter beds for women only. Open 24/7.
  • Friendship Lelum Youth Safe House- provides eight shelter beds for youth only. Open 24/7.

Please visit www.nanaimo.ca/goto/supports for further details and a full list of basic need services available to people experiencing homelessness.

Link to Strategic Plan: Warming services for people experiencing homelessness supports City Plan’s goal for a Healthy Nanaimo.

Key Points

  • With flurries and cold temperatures expected over the weekend, the City of Nanaimo is working with the Regional District of Nanaimo and community partners to provide additional warming services for Nanaimo's unsheltered population.
  • The City of Nanaimo, in partnership with Nanaimo Family Life Association, will provide extreme weather relief spaces at the City’s Centennial Building for overnight warming starting on Sunday, February 2, 2025, between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. for up to 80 individuals until further notice.
  • BC Housing Extreme Weather Response Shelter, operated by 7-10 Club Society and located at the Harvest Church will provide shelter for up to 30 individuals from 9:30 p.m. to 7 a.m.
  • Additional City Community Safety Officers will be on shift to distribute survival supplies, hot beverages, conduct wellness checks with health partners and support individuals to get to warming services.

Quotes

"With the possibility of cold weather approaching, ensuring that everyone in our community has a safe, warm place to go is a top priority. By working together with the Regional District of Nanaimo and our community partners, we are expanding services and providing emergency relief spaces to support those in need. We encourage anyone requiring shelter to access these available resources."

Leonard Krog
Mayor
City of Nanaimo
-30-

Contact:

For media enquiries, please contact
Communications
City of Nanaimo
250-754-4251

Print News Release

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