The City of Abbotsford is partnering with the province to open a temporary shelter to get the city’s homeless population out of the cold this winter.
It’s hoped the facility will open before Christmas and provide shelter until April 2016.
The 40-bed shelter, constructed with portable trailers, will be pet-friendly and residents won’t be forced to leave during the day.
Last month, the B.C. Supreme Court sided with a group of homeless people over their right to camp on public property in Abbotsford, but the judge did rule that they have to clean up and decamp during the daytime.
The ruling came after a series of confrontations at the camp, including incidents where municipal officials dumped manure on the encampment, and where police pepper sprayed tents.
Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun said he won’t be enforcing the court-ordered rules at the camp until sometime in the New Year -- and says the enforcement is for safety reasons.
He hopes that people living in the camp will choose to move into the shelter and utilize its services to find long-term housing.
“If people just refuse to leave Gladys and this goes on for months, we will go to court to get an injunction to have them removed for their own safety, whether they like it or not," he told CTV News.
The Lookout Emergency Aid Society is operating the new shelter and will provide three meals a day, and will connect clients with assistance for housing.
"This project will save lives. It will get people off the streets here in Abbotsford," said Shayne Williams.
The city is providing the vacant land and the $750,000 in construction costs. The other $450,000 is being provided by the province.
