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Quick Peak: Emergency extreme weather shelter opens

Dropping temperatures and a forecast for the return of winter in Powell River on Thursday, February 2, activated the first opening of the city’s extreme weather shelter.

Dropping temperatures and a forecast for the return of winter in Powell River on Thursday, February 2, activated the first opening of the city’s extreme weather shelter.

The Salvation Army community ministries coordinator Kerrin Fraser said Powell River’s homeless population has a hard time staying dry and warm, so the shelter at 4500 Joyce Avenue will provide people with an option to come in from the cold. Fraser said that during the heavy snowfall over the weekend, the shelter housed one person.

Organizers are relying on media, a sign at Community Resource Centre and the help of first responders to spread the news to known homeless people.

A community committee recently created a six-condition activation protocol, which includes temperatures near zero with rainfall that makes staying dry a challenge, sleet or freezing rain, snow accumulation, sustained high winds and temperatures below -2 degrees Celsius.

Organizers have asked for the public’s assistance in helping to direct homeless people to the shelter.