This winter, the District of Saanich is taking additional steps to provide shelter to the unhoused community by opening additional Extreme Weather Response (EWR) shelter spaces.
The new EWR shelter will be Broad View United Church, located at 3703 St. Aidan’s Street, and will be operated in partnership with Our Place Society.
This EWR shelter was only just recently approved as an initiative by the District and is being funded by BC Housing.
Broad View United Church will be able to provide up to 20 spaces for those needing shelter from the elements when the weather is severe enough to warrant the EWR shelter being opened.
“By providing a safe, warm and comfortable space during the toughest nights of the year, these new EWR shelter spaces will make an incredible difference to people in need,” said Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock
For those unaware, EWR shelters are not the same as normal, nightly shelter spaces, which are available to those in need every night for.
Instead, EWR spaces only become available when specific weather criteria is met, which could include, but is not limited to, freezing temperatures, prolonged periods of rain and snow.
Prior to Broad View United Church being designated as an EWR shelter, Saanich only had one active EWR through the Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC). The VNFC has a total capacity of 50 spaces, 25 of which are specifically for temporary winter shelter spaces.
In addition to these EWR shelter spaces, the District has committed to allowing those seeking warmth to go to any Saanich recreation centre during operating hours.
Those recreation centres include:
- Saanich Commonwealth Place, located at 4636 Elk Lake Drive
- Gordon Head Recreation Centre, at 4100 Lambrick Way
- Cedar Hill Recreation and Arts Centre, at 3220 Cedar Hill Road
- G. R. Pearkes Recreation Centre, at 3100 Tillicum Road
Now Saanich has a total of 45 EWR shelter spaces to offer the unhoused community when weather becomes severe.
In contrast, there are only 60 EWR spaces within the City of Victoria, which are provided through the Salvation Army’s Addictions and Rehabilitation Centre or SOLID Outreach.
Additionally, Sooke has 13 EWR spaces and Salt Spring Island has 10.
Sidney’s city council recently voted against opening an EWR shelter after many members of the community rallied against the notion.
