When it became clear that sub-zero temperatures were going to be in Kelowna for awhile, reducing the risk facing this communitysa国际传媒檚 transient community became a top priority.
sa国际传媒淎 coalition of agencies, the city and the provincial government came together in a conference call on Friday, which is a testimony to the incredible co-operative forces we now have in our city (through) the Journey Home process,sa国际传媒� said Laurence East with Metro Church said, Monday.
sa国际传媒淚n a matter of hours, we put together a (temporary shelter) plan sa国际传媒� through a partnership of with B.C. Housing, The City of Kelowna, the John Howard Society and volunteers from our community we can house 20 people a night here safely.sa国际传媒�
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The old Central Okanagan Food Bank on Ellis Street is owned by the Metro Church and they are in the process of converting it to a facility that will fit their needs. While making it a shelter will set that plan back a few weeks, it was an easy choice.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 saving lives. Wesa国际传媒檙e just grateful we could muster it so quickly. It would be horrible to be outside in the cold,sa国际传媒� East said, noting 14 people arrived for the first night and that it was a success with no incidents.
sa国际传媒淲e were happy to offer it. Obviously, we care deeply about people and we didnsa国际传媒檛 want them to be at risk, outside and sleeping rough.sa国际传媒�
The space is a no-drug use facility, and those who need shelter register at 9 p.m., gain entry to the space and find a mat at 10 p.m. Doors open at 8 a.m. the next morning and guests are invited to make their way to behind the facility to where the Metro Church is operating a cafe and offers breakfast.
READ ALSO: SHELTER STILL LOOKING FOR SPACE
At 11 a.m. Tuesday there were at least half a dozen people still in the cafe area, catching more sleep.
One of them was named Eddie. He had spent Monday night at the facility and said that it was OK. Certainly better than staying in a park during sa国际传媒渃hallengingsa国际传媒� conditions.
Hesa国际传媒檚 from Surrey and on route to Kamloops, but said that he and his girlfriend would likely stay another few nights to avoid travelling in dangerous conditions. The co-ed facility is a better match to their needs than the men-only facility at the Gospel Mission.
The street also has a completely different feel to Leon Avenue, where other shelters are situated.
People who worked in the area said they didnsa国际传媒檛 even realize that the shelter had gone up on Monday.
Crystal Russell has owned the neighbouring business Chai Babba tea for the last five years of its 10 years on Ellis Street.
She said that both when the building was run by the Foodbank and now, with Metro Church moving in, there have been occasional incidents with people who were struggling with mental health issues interacting in a negative way with customers and employees.
Their motto, however, is to sa国际传媒渢reat everyone with the same kindness you want to be treated with,sa国际传媒� she said.
What would help with that aim is some resources for when trouble arises. Itsa国际传媒檚 too much to call for police in those times, and she said shesa国际传媒檇 like people to be treated with dignity.
The Downtown Patrol can help, but they tend to be slow.
Other than these incidents, she said, the neighbourhood takes care of itself and despite its increasingly urban reality has maintained a small town feel.
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