The qathet emergency shelter will officially close later this month.
The shelter, which holds 20 beds to support over 120 people at 4746 Joyce Avenue, is closing because Lift Community Services has not been able to secure a new shelter site for those in need.
The organization says this comes as the lease on the shelter will expire at the end of this month. While BC Housing and the City of Powell River agreed to assess an empty lot on Barnet Street in January, without an immediate new location, service in the shelter will be disrupted.
Lift Executive Director Kim Markel says the team is disappointed that it’s come to this point.
“We are very concerned about the impact of a shelter closure, however temporary,” said Markel.
“The people who access the shelter, which operates 24-hours a day, 7-days a week and provides warm meals, a clean bed, staff support, harm reduction services, and community referrals and connections, are all ages and come from all different backgrounds.”
She says in July last year, Lift learned its lease would not be renewed after the owner and landlord sold the building to Powell River Health-Care Auxiliary, resulting in the team working with a commercial realtor to see all possible options for a new location.
“In December we submitted a formal request to the new owners that our lease be extended on a month-to-month basis while we secure a new location, which was unfortunately denied,” said Markel.
“Lift also reached out to several faith groups in town inquiring about leasing their space to provide overnight shelter services, none of which were able to accommodate,” said Lift.
In the meantime, Lift is working with local and provincial partners, with hopes of finding a temporary space to take care of people in the spring and summer.
The shelter closes at noon on March 26.
