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December 19, 2022 - 4:13 PM
More than two dozen insulated tents are on their way to Kelowna to help shelter the dozens of homeless who cannot get beds in local shelters during the current cold snap.
A City of Kelowna news release issued today, Dec. 19, doesn’t say when they'll arrive but 27 tents are on the way.
The warming bus that was set up earlier this winter has returned to the city-run camping spot next to the Okanagan Rail Trail in the North End of downtown.
Hours have been extended from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Earlier it was there only from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. It has room for 24 people and will return each night until Saturday when the extreme temperatures are expected to ease.
“Frontline workers, including city bylaw services, Kelowna Fire Department, RCMP, security personnel, Downtown Kelowna Association’s On-Call team and other community outreach agencies are vigilantly monitoring the wellbeing of people sheltering outdoors,” the news release says.
“They are conducting welfare checks, distributing blankets, sleeping bags, tents, socks, hand/toe warmers and helping people find available shelter beds and engaging emergency health services when needed.”
Temperatures in Kelowna are forecast to drop to -19 Celsius tonight with heavy snow tomorrow. The forecast for the low Tuesday night is -26 C and -24 C Wednesday night. By Saturday it’s expected to warm up to -8 C.
There’s also warm-up options at Parkinson Recreation Centre, the Metro Central Drop-in Centre on St. Paul Street and the downtown branch of the Okanagan Regional Library.
“We are continuing to meet with community groups and individuals who are working to find more long-term solutions to help our vulnerable population during the cold months,” Mayor Tom Dyas said in the news release.
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