In the absence of a dedicated indoor cold-weather shelter, a Parksville woman looks to help those left out in the cold.
On Sunday, Feb. 14, Kelly Morris created a cold-weather camp in the back parking lot of St. Anne91裸聊视频檚 church on Church Road.
Since there are currently no cold-weather shelters in the Parksville Qualicum Beach region, Morris said she would have to make due with warm tents.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 no doors open and these people are literally freezing,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not OK for us to sit back and watch.91裸聊视频�
Morris plans on keeping the camp accessible until significant efforts are made to help the vulnerable population and 91裸聊视频渟omething91裸聊视频� opens up.
As of Tuesday, Feb. 16, though there are currently only two tents in the camp and only one camper at the St. Anne91裸聊视频檚 location, Morris anticipates the camp getting larger, as people bring their own tents.
She said that with the supplies they have, they can provide shelter for eight people.
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Morris said she chose St. Anne91裸聊视频檚 parking lot 91裸聊视频渂ecause nobody can move them from the church.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 the only place they can actually go for any kind of sanctuary.91裸聊视频�
She said when people experiencing homelessness set up camp within the city in an area that allows for overnight camping, such as Mark91裸聊视频檚 Nature Park, city staff will ask them to pack up and take what they can carry the next morning.
A lot of their belongings are left behind, such as winter clothing and other winter essentials, she said.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e really hoping that something will give. I91裸聊视频檓 pretty sure there91裸聊视频檚 going to be some doors opening up. I91裸聊视频檓 hoping.91裸聊视频�
Rev. Christine Muise, the Priest Associate for St. Anne91裸聊视频檚 and a founding member of OHEART (a local organization trying to find a shelter solution in the Parksville Qualicum Beach region), believes the campers would be far better placed in a municipal building but understands that 91裸聊视频渢hese people have nowhere else to go.91裸聊视频�
Located in the parking lot, tucked behind the 127-year-old wood church, are portable toilets where campers can 91裸聊视频渁s human beings, use the bathroom.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not in a position where I can, right now, let them go find somewhere else because they91裸聊视频檝e, as far as I know, tried other places. And there91裸聊视频檚 no actual spots within the community that they could safely sleep or go to the bathroom,91裸聊视频� said Muise.
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