The Victoria Cool Aid Society was slightly over capacity Sunday night.
On Monday, the temperature in Victoria was a chilly -5 C B次元官网网址� with wind chill bringing the temperature closer to -10.
The Victoria Cool Aid Society offers 109 beds year-round and 40 additional beds over the winter B次元官网网址� from Nov. 1 to March 31. During the activation of the Emergency Weather Protocol (EWP), Cool Aid opens an additional 20 mats at their Rock Bay Landing location.
Cool AidB次元官网网址檚 Seasonal Shelter opens at 9 pm nightly at the Downtown Community Centre, 755 Pandora.
B次元官网网址� Cool Aid (@VicCoolAid)
Joann Connolly, manager of the Victoria Cool Aid Society shelters at Rock Bay Landing, said the society often sees its bed usage go down during an EWP because clients have more options.
But not this week.
B次元官网网址淪o we typically see it go down, but this time we didnB次元官网网址檛, we actually saw it increase,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 assuming thatB次元官网网址檚 due to the really cold temperatures and the snow and the wind.B次元官网网址�
Connolly said Cool Aid took in 21 people at their 20-bed Rocky Bay landing emergency location, and 43 people at the 40-bed temporary shelter at the Downtown Community Centre at 755 Pandora Ave.
B次元官网网址淲e have to say no to some extent, especially in the temporary shelter, especially because itB次元官网网址檚 a small space B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a gym,B次元官网网址� she said, adding that staffing and fire regulations limit intake to 45 people at the downtown centre.
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The temporary shelter offers a hot meal, some toiletries and clean clothes and staffing to direct clients to different resources.
VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 EWP was activated Feb. 3 when temperatures dropped across the south Island.
The EWP is a community-based initiative to increase the number of shelter spaces available during winter weather conditions such as heavy wind, snow, rain and temperatures below 0 C.
With the help of organizations such as Our Place Society and the Salvation Army, an additional 115 spots open up for overnight shelter when the EWP is activated.
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