Three Coquitlam churches are slated to again roll out their welcome mats for the homeless in the Tri-Cities this winter.
On Monday, city council approved the paperwork that would allow the Hope For Freedom Society to set up a cold/wet weather program at Coquitlam Alliance Church, Eagle Ridge Bible Fellowship and Calvary Baptist Church - the same venues that have been used in the past for temporary sleeping quarters.
In three years, neither the city nor police has logged any complaints about the operation, said Bruce Irvine, the city's manager of community planning. A maximum of 30 beds are available for people who are shuttled to the churches (Port Coquitlam and Port Moody also have a church each available).
The zoning bylaw text amendment to designate the Coquitlam churches as temporary use permit (TUP) areas was approved after a public hearing earlier Monday night that saw no opponents but was viewed by Sandy and Cathy Burpee of the Tri-Cities' Homelessness Task Group.
Irvine said the TUPs will be in place until a permanent shelter for the homeless is built at 3030 Gordon Ave. Funding for that project has yet to be committed but Irvine said BC Housing is now considering shelter operators.
