A B.C. business has come up with a novel way to help the homeless.
Shadow Lines Transportation, based in Langley, has converted a marine shipping container into a mobile shelter than can house up to 16 people each night.
During the day, the shelter would be towed away to a company site to get cleaned and sanitized.
"Then when it's required again, it can be brought back into service, be put up and within 30 minutes, it's ready to go for accommodation for the night," said Richard Rotteveel, a Shadow Lines employee.
The company undertook the conversion at a cost of $100,000 and estimates that it can replicate it for about $40,000. The company says it's willing to absorb the cost and do all the cleaning.
Rotteveel said the company's owner felt compelled to act after seeing so many people sleeping in backyards and in cars.
"They're sleeping wherever they can find a place now," he said.
Gateway Baptist Church in Surrey has agreed to have the mobile shelter parked on its property.
Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said she supports the concept if it meets safety standards.
If the city and fire department give the green light, the shelter could be open as early as this weekend.
Nightshift Street Ministries has offered to run the shelter.
"I think what's unique about this, it offers people the opportunity to have their own room so there's that element of privacy and confidentiality and safety," said Nighshift founder MaryAnne Connor.
Not all residents have embraced the idea.
"I personally think that homeless shelters should not be in residential areas," said Les Vankoughnegg.
Merle Frerichs agreed.
"There's many areas away from family homes where the homeless could stay," he said.
But Chris Evans said he doesn't like to see people sleeping outside.
"I do feel it's necessary if there's not enough room in shelters," he said.
Shadow Lines Transportation says it has had interest from as far away as Calgary.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Michele Brunoro
