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February 01, 2023 - 7:00 PM
The Kamloops Alliance Church opened its doors for shelter space 13 times this winter, bringing 310 people out of the coldest nights of the year.
The Mustard Seed operates the shelter when temperatures dip below -10 C, with help from church volunteers.
During the 13 nights it opened, a total of 215 men and 95 women showed up to the only emergency shelter on the North Shore, according to a Mustard Seed news release.
Another church lent a bus to help transport shelter users each morning and night after neighbourhood residents grew concerned with foot traffic in the area.
READ MORE: 'Nuisance' Kamloops non-profit gets fewer emergency calls than other sites
The Loop drop-in centre operator, Glenn Hilke, said they extended hours and partnered with The Mustard Seed to take those clients on the 13 nights the shelter opened, which isn't mentioned in the news release.
The shelter first opened on Dec. 14 when it was clear Kamloops did not have enough shelter space for the homeless population.
Some organizations, like Canadian Mental Health Association and ASK Wellness, refused to operate emergency shelters, taking issue with short-term and last minute planning each year.
READ MORE: Kamloops has half the needed shelter space: shelter provider
Aside from the church on Fortune Drive, there are 209 shelter beds across the city and they're rarely full, according to other service providers.
The Alliance Church shelter only opens from 10 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. when temperatures drop below -10 C. It's on standby until March 31, but with a possible warm February coming to the Thompson-Okanagan, there's a chance the emergency shelter won't open again this year.
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