Those who are homeless in Kelowna, British Columbia, are becoming frantic to stay warm since sleeping outside and in tents is becoming more difficult due to the falling evening temperatures.
They have candles burning inside their tents. According to Paul Johnson, a fire prevention officer with the Kelowna Fire Department, they are utilising gas heaters inside the tents.
“It has significant implications. You know it’s not a good idea to mix nylon with fire.
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According to Johnson, five fires connected to persons attempting to escape the cold this weekend alone required the assistance of fire crews throughout the city.
Those attempting to remain warm, suffering homelessness, and people living outside have all increased, according to Johnson.
While most of the fires were small, one of them, along Enterprise Way, spread into nearby bushes.
One actually was a sizable fire that spread into the bush and left us with a 30-by-30-foot fire in the trees and the grass, according to Johnson.
In recent months, there has been a sharp rise in the number of people sleeping outside, notably at the city-designated outdoor sheltering spot in the north end of downtown, where a tent fire was also started a few weeks ago.
As the weather changes, there is a desperate and urgent need for more shelter space because local shelters are already at capacity.
The new Bay Avenue shelter, which opened a few weeks ago, can house up to 60 people, but due to staffing challenges during the present labour crisis, it is only functioning at half capacity.
There will still be dozens of people left outside in the cold even after the shelter fills its final 30 slots.
“Huge concern,” said Michael Morrison, development resource officer with the Gospel Mission, which operates the Bay Avenue shelter.
“The weather right now is kind of OK, but it may change pretty quickly, and we’re worried that these people will be out on the streets. We need to provide them with a warm bed, even while our outreach staff is out there assisting those living on the streets.
Global News reached out to the City of Kelowna to ask what the plans are for an emergency winter shelter but no one was available to comment.
For an interview, the executive director of Journey Home, which aims to end homelessness by 2025, was unavailable. However, in a message to Global News, Stephanie Gauthier said, “Work is continuing with Journey Home, the City and BC Housing, to identify new spaces and options for winter shelter.
“We are also working closely with community partners to ensure we can meet the needs of people currently outdoors as best as possible in terms of providing food, warm clothing, sleeping gear, etc. ”
Gauthier continued by saying that Journey home is also developing an emergency response for use when it is -10 degrees or colder outside.
This is concentrated around an emergency mat programme, in extra locations to manage the risk of loss of life for persons who could still be outside.
Concerns for residents residing on Kelowna, British Columbia, streets increase when the temperature drops.
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