Vancouver warming centre at capacity
A Vancouver warming centre says it’s reached capacity every night since opening Wednesday due to the frigid temperatures.
The Odd Fellows Hall located at West 8th Avenue and Granville Street is able to accommodate 20 people.
Chris Thomson, a member who helps run the centre, said anyone the charity can’t accommodate is offered help to find another warming centre in the city. He said due to the inclement weather, when the hall opens, there’s already a lineup out the door.
“The last three nights, it’s been absolutely packed and it’s been packed immediately,” Thomson said.
Thomson said ideally, he'd like to see the hours extended at the warming centre.
“We try to wait until the last moment, but when it’s freezing cold and you see them go, we feel bad about it, but there’s nothing we can do,” he said.
Bruk Melles, the director of homelessness services with the City of Vancouver, said its warming centers hold about 150 spaces nightly. On Thursday evening, Melles said spaces were 82-per-cent full.
“Many of the sites were either at capacity or close to capacity,” Melles said.
On Friday, representatives from dozens of organizations on the Downtown Eastside signed a letter calling on the government to “rapidly fund” more 24-hour warming spaces across Vancouver for those without a home.
The call comes days after the city enforced a bylaw at Oppenheimer park, removing people’s tents and belongings.
Ryan Sudds, an organizer with Stop the Sweeps, said he's not sure where many people ended up after the decampment Tuesday.
“Especially when we see this kind of displacement, you can’t ask someone to take down a tent in this kind of weather and not give them a safe alternative,” Sudds said.
The only 24-hour warming centre open in the city is located at The Nest downtown.
Melles said with extreme weather becoming more common, the city is open to exploring other solutions. She added the during the day, residents can access public libraries and community centres, some of which, like the Carnegie Community Centre, are open two hours earlier due to the cold.
“We absolutely understand the need for extended hours, and really try to encourage people to use these services throughout the day and the evening services,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump threatens to try to take back the Panama Canal. Panama's president balks at the suggestion
Donald Trump suggested Sunday that his new administration could try to regain control of the Panama Canal that the United States “foolishly” ceded to its Central American ally, contending that shippers are charged “ridiculous” fees to pass through the vital transportation channel linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Man handed 5th distracted driving charge for using cell phone on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
An Ottawa driver was charged for using a cell phone behind the wheel on Sunday, the fifth time he has faced distracted driving charges.
Wrongfully convicted N.B. man has mixed feelings since exoneration
Robert Mailman, 76, was exonerated on Jan. 4 of a 1983 murder for which he and his friend Walter Gillespie served lengthy prison terms.
Can the Governor General do what Pierre Poilievre is asking? This expert says no
A historically difficult week for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government ended with a renewed push from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to topple this government – this time in the form a letter to the Governor General.
opinion Christmas movies for people who don't like Christmas movies
The holidays can bring up a whole gamut of emotions, not just love and goodwill. So CTV film critic Richard Crouse offers up a list of Christmas movies for people who might not enjoy traditional Christmas movies.
More than 7,000 Jeep SUVs recalled in Canada over camera display concern
A software issue potentially affecting the rearview camera display in select Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee models has prompted a recall of more than 7,000 vehicles.
'I'm still thinking pinch me': lost puppy reunited with family after five years
After almost five years of searching and never giving up hope, the Tuffin family received the best Christmas gift they could have hoped for: being reunited with their long-lost puppy.
10 hospitalized after carbon monoxide poisoning in Ottawa's east end
The Ottawa Police Service says ten people were taken to hospital, with one of them in life-threatening condition, after being exposed to carbon monoxide in the neighbourhood of Vanier on Sunday morning.
New York City police apprehend suspect in the death of a woman found on fire in a subway car
New York City police announced Sunday they have in custody a “person of interest” in the early morning death of a woman who they believe may have fallen asleep on a stationary subway train before being intentionally lit on fire by a man she didn't know.