Jang wants winter HEAT

Aleeza Khan/Metro File

RainCity Housing’s Cardero Street shelter in January.

Published: October 11, 2011 5:46 a.m.

Last modified: October 11, 2011 1:49 a.m.

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City Coun. Kerry Jang said he wants to ensure people won’t have to sleep outside at night as the Vancouver weather gets colder.

That is why the Vision councillor will move a motion on Oct. 18 at city council calling on more funding from the provincial government for the city’s HEAT shelters.

“The province so far has not shown any interest in having this best way of getting people inside,” said Jang, adding the city has provided the land and building use, but that the province provides funding for the actual operation of the shelters.

The province has put money into what they call “extreme weather shelters,” Jang added, which are shelters that open up in church basements and don’t operate 24-7.

“There’s no predictability for the homeless and that’s why they don’t go in,” he said. “You can put as much money into these other types of shelters, but they’re not nearly as effective.”

The “low-barrier” HEAT shelters allow pets and safe storing for personal belongings, he added, and opening them up again this winter is important because they are open 24-7.

“The Stanley New Fountain (shelter), which is a 40-bed facility, has moved over 300 people into care and housing over the last couple of years,” he said.

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