Another extreme weather shelter (EWS) will be available in the city.
Delta has been working with the Homelessness Services Association of BC (HCABC) and other community organizations to establish a shelter in North Delta.
A report to city council notes the Leadership Council of New Hope Church, located at 11838 88 Ave., offered to provide space and have partnered with Phoenix Society to operate the new facility.
Phoenix Society is highly experienced working with vulnerable and unhoused population groups, currently operating the Little House Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery house in Tsawwassen.
The North Delta facility is tentatively to open on Dec. 1 with COVID-19 public health restrictions.
It will be able to accommodate a maximum of 15 guests.
“Recognizing that North Delta, with more than double the population of South Delta, has no emergency shelter facilities, staff have been working for some time to identify potential locations and partners to operate an emergency shelter in this area. Until now, unhoused people in the North Delta area had to travel to facilities in Surrey, Richmond or Vancouver to find shelter during extreme weather events,” a report notes.
The provision of the EWS services in Delta, Surrey and White Rock is managed by HCABC in collaboration with community groups and municipal staff.
Last winter season, out of a possible 144 nights, the Ladner United Church based EWS was opened 119 times.
