When the mercury started dropping a week ago, politicians promised immediate action to protect the homeless.
On Thursday evening some of these plans were put into practice with the opening of several shelters totalling 36 beds in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
These shelters are part of a $1.5 million promise to help the homeless with 200 beds, which was made earlier this week by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell.
One, called New Fountain is located on West Cordova and will also take the pets of homeless people. Many people remain on the streets rather than abandon pets that can't be brought inside.
Another 164 beds will become available in the next few days once the facilities are cleaned up and made ready.
The beds will be available for the next 90 days as part of the announcement.
City Hall's housing advocate Judy Graves said that in the past shelters would fill up on cold nights, and many were turned away to fend for themselves.
"It's the first time probably in 15 years that everyone can get inside on a night like this," she said.
One homeless man, sharing a doorway with his wife, is Martin. He would not give his second name.
He is uncertain about going to a shelter.
"I don't know. I'm adapted to outside," he said. "But there are a lot of people out here that I see, they're really cold."
With a report from CTV British Columbia's St. John Alexander
