A winter storm rolled into the valley Tuesday, marking the time of year that the men and women running Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 shelters start to scramble.
There are rarely enough beds to house the city91裸聊视频檚 growing homeless population during the coldest days of winter and Inn From the Cold and the Gospel Mission routinely announced they reached capacity in years past as winter hit.
In recent years the Gospel Mission ran the mat program, squeezing more people into the facility than it naturally holds for the worst days.
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91裸聊视频淚t put pressure on our facility by putting so many people into a small space,91裸聊视频� said Randy Benson, who is the executive director of the Gospel Mission.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 just not the same degree of comfort.91裸聊视频�
This year, however, there91裸聊视频檚 a new service provider in town and it91裸聊视频檚 offered some relief.
The building that once housed A&B Sound music store on Leon Avenue in downtown Kelowna was converted into Cornerstone, a homeless shelter and it opened Nov. 30.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really lowered the stress level here,91裸聊视频� said Benson.
91裸聊视频淏etween the two of us, when we communicate, anybody who needs shelter we are able to keep up with that.91裸聊视频�
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The Gospel Mission has 90 beds and Cornerstone has 75.
Even still, said Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 John Howard Society executive director Gaelene Askeland, there is a need for people who have yet to come in from the cold. There91裸聊视频檚 hope that need can be met later this week when some of their clientele move into permanent housing, courtesy of a partnership between the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Housing and the Gospel Mission.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e been full since we opened,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e doing our best to keep the folks we have in there clean, dry, warm, fed and housed.91裸聊视频�
Each day there are 91裸聊视频渉iccups and bumps91裸聊视频� as they nail down a routine, but Askeland said overall it91裸聊视频檚 been running well.
91裸聊视频淲e have a great team of staff who are doing a great job and we91裸聊视频檙e doing the best with what we have to work with,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e grateful we have the space we do91裸聊视频very day is another opportunity to keep people alive.91裸聊视频�
Hazardous winter conditions were expected across the Okanagan starting Tuesday and moving into Wednesday.
91裸聊视频淎 moist Pacific frontal system will bring heavy snow to the southwestern Interior,91裸聊视频� according to an Environment Canada alert issued Tuesday.
General snowfall accumulation of 20 to 25 cm is expected in Merritt and Kelowna while near Westbank and Peachland, snowfall totals could reach 35 cm by Wednesday morning.
Meteorologists report a deepening Pacific low-pressure system will track across northern Washington state.
91裸聊视频淭his system will combine plentiful moisture with cool northerly winds near the surface,91裸聊视频� according to Environment Canada. 91裸聊视频淭he result will be heavy snow continuing through Wednesday morning for most communities in the southwestern interior and Kootenays.91裸聊视频�
