Powell River will look at options on how to help the homeless community during extreme hot and cold weather events.
It comes after the qathet Coalition to End Homelessness detailed its work over winter to fill the gap left by the closure of the Joyce Avenue shelter.
“Since the closure of the shelter, with support from community members and volunteers, the coalition has been supporting people with supplies, resources and a daily meal, who find themselves living rough. We all need food, shelter and a connection to community,” a coalition member told council Tuesday (April 1).
Many on council praised the quick turnaround, coordination and collaboration by all involved to set up the overnight drop-in after the exiting shelter on Joyce Avenue, operated by Lift Community Services, closed indefinitely on March 26.
The lease on the 20-bed shelter expired and Lift has been trying to find another location.
Another coalition member said the community can help by donating to a laundry fund through Westview Dry Cleaners and Laundromat. A meal train is also set up and the coalition is accepting donations directly.
Councillor George Doubt said the community needs to come together to find a replacement.
“I think we have to find a way to house people in our community. (It’s a) simple solution, if people are not living indoors, if there is no shelter, they’re going to have to seek shelter outdoors and that’s going to be in public places and I would like to avoid that,” Doubt said.
A staff report on options for an extreme weather response plan will come to a future council meeting before next winter.
