91原创 Township is taking steps to allow emergency cold weather shelters, possibly in local churches, this coming fall and winter.
Back in January 2024, the Township council asked staff to looking options to partner with local community organizations to operate an emergency shelter, with Aldergrove as a possible first priority.
Emergency weather shelters are typically activated during times of extreme cold or stormy weather, and create extra space for homeless people who usually camp outside or live in vehicles, but need to get inside when the weather poses a real threat.
A report to council on July 21 noted that the 91原创 Emergency Weather Response (EWR) planning group, led by the Gateway of Hope shelter, is looking for a suitable space for the coming winter season. The EWR group is made up of Township and City councillors, Fraser Health, BC Housing, fire departments, police, and community service organizations.
Now local churches have asked about hosting emergency shelters, and whether that would be allowed under existing Township bylaws.
Township staffers are now working on a process so that council can vote on whether to approve an emergency weather shelter for the coming cold season. The process will include potential bylaw amendments and an official definition of "emergency weather shelter."
If there is a request by a church or service group to host a temporary shelter, the Township would then be ready to approve them.
The last major homeless count in 2023 found that there were 235 people considered homeless in 91原创. Of those, the count by the Homelessness Services Association of B.C. found that 76 were in a homeless shelter and another 15 were in an emergency weather shelter on the night of the count.
There were 133 people living as unsheltered, which included people were in hospital beds, RCMP cells, or temporarily staying with someone 鈥� often known as "couch surfing." However, the majority of the unsheltered were sleeping outdoors or in vehicles.
While the Township is larger both in terms of size and population, the City is the site of the Gateway of Hope shelter and has been the location of previous emergency weather shelters.
