For the primary time this winter, freezing temperatures have prompted the Metropolis of Kelowna to maneuver right into a Stage 2 chilly climate protocol as of Monday.
“With a Stage 2, that’s after we attain between -10 C and -19 C. That’s after we open up new choices for people dwelling outside,” stated Ali Westlund, the outside sheltering coordinator for the Metropolis of Kelowna.
The town activated a warming tent arrange on the rail path, in addition to warming buses stationed all through Kelowna.
“We are able to have as much as 50 people in that tent an evening. First night time out we had people in there for a lot of the night time, little quieter earlier Tuesday morning. It was at full utilization,” stated Westlund.
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The tent is a pilot mission between the town and Kelowna’s Gospel Mission, who’ve outreach workers always monitoring individuals sheltering exterior.
“Our group supplies breakfast and dinner on the warming tent and as soon as service is finished there, they head to the downtown core,” stated Troy McKnight, Kelowna Gospel Mission.
“They go on the lookout for people who find themselves dwelling unsheltered in our group, checking for indicators of hypothermia or publicity, they’re capable of present them with warming blankets and toques.”
Gospel Mission workers proceed that work on the warming tent, by the night time.
“We now have two outreach workers who keep in a single day with one safety individual, to take care of individuals they’re additionally on the lookout for indicators of hypothermia,” stated McKnight.
The primary night time on the tent, in line with the town, was a hit.
“We checked in Tuesday morning, we checked in with everybody concerned in it, we had no points, we didn’t have something come up Monday night time,” stated Westlund.
The warming tent is predicted to stay open till no less than Friday, and individuals are urged to make use of any accessible shelter beds.
“Final I heard there are nonetheless some beds accessible and naturally, we’re encouraging individuals to maneuver into the shelter beds,” stated Westlund.
The rail path is house to 56 per cent of Kelowna’s unsheltered inhabitants.
