The recent spate of cold weather has resulted in record numbers of people using homeless shelters in the Tri-Cities.
Two shelters are currently operating in Port Coquitlam, both in local churches, with the temporary mat program for 30 people seeing 36 people show up on average a night, and an additional nine people arriving for a shelter that only opens up when temperatures drop below zero and people's health could be at risk.
Hope for Freedom Society director Rob Thiessen said numbers have been high and steady since the Bridge shelter opened Oct. 1, with more men than women arriving each night for a mat, a hot meal, breakfast and a bag lunch to take away.
"The entire Lower Mainland has huge homelessness issues," Thiessen said. "All the shelters are full.
"They go to places where there's room. We are getting calls from people as far away as Hope," he said, noting that most of those housed in local shelters are from the Tri-Cities.
In this region, homelessness has been growing over the last two years after several years of declines as more people were placed into permanent housing. Thiessen said some of the current homeless are hard-to-house individuals who have mental health issues, and there has been an increase in unruly people with behaviour issues seeking shelter, although they are usually turned away if they cause problems.
Thiessen said he would like to see mental health workers do more outreach to help people with their issues.
Meanwhile, the Extreme Weather Response Shelter has been open since last Friday and is expected to continue to stay open as long as the cold weather holds. (The shelter at Port Coquitlam's Trinity United Church will be closed Nov. 27 and Nov. 28 because of a church bazaar.)
Coordinator Joyce Lissimore said those who have been showing up at 9 p.m., when the emergency shelter opens, receive a hot meal, a mat to sleep on, breakfast and a bag lunch to go but have to leave the premises by 7 a.m.
People appreciate having a warm, dry space to sleep, she said, especially people who have dogs.
"One of the blessings we have is kennels so they can bring their pets," Lissimore said.
There are enough volunteers to help with the shelter but if people have blankets to donate — the church needs just 10 as it has no room to store more than that — they would be welcome at Trinity.
A permanent shelter is expected to open Jan. 1 at 3030 Gordon Ave. in Coquitlam and will have room for 30 people in temporary facilities plus 30 units for individuals working on their issues to get into permanent housing.
