Itsa国际传媒檚 been two weeks since a temporary shelter run by the John Howard Society on Ellis Street opened and things are going well.

sa国际传媒淚t is pretty much at capacity every night and in the mornings we are getting a full-20 coming over to our drop-in centre next door,sa国际传媒� said Laurence East, pastor with Metro Community.

Metro Community church purchased the old Central Okanagan Food Bank on Ellis Street, which is currently being used as an emergency shelter. Previously it was being renovated to serve the needs of its membership. Those renovations went on hold when a decision was made to use the space for a temporary shelter while temperatures dipped to sub zero levels and pre-existing shelter spaces filled up.

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sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a no drugs, no drinking shelter and people seem to be calm,sa国际传媒� said East. sa国际传媒淭hose who come in, come in just to sleep and to rest. They get a decent mattress and a pillow and itsa国际传媒檚 warm.sa国际传媒�

East said Shaw installed high speed internet at the facility for while the shelter is up and running and thatsa国际传媒檚 satisfying clients who almost all have smartphones.

sa国际传媒淲e thought about putting in a TV, but we didnsa国际传媒檛 want it to be disruptive,sa国际传媒� he said.

The space is only supposed to be used until the end of February, but theresa国际传媒檚 already been talk of an extension if conditions donsa国际传媒檛 improve. Thatsa国际传媒檚 something that East is comfortable with doing.

As for how neighbours are faring with their new neighbours, itsa国际传媒檚 been pretty good. East said they sent out a letter to those nearby and explained what was happening.

Only one incident has thus far raised concerns and it was largely a misunderstanding. A harm reduction kit was found and people believed it to be dirty needles.

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