With temperatures heading towards -30 C, one Salmon Arm man couldn香蕉视频直播檛 wait another day for an overnight emergency shelter.
Emphasizing he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 want to be in the spotlight, the man spoke on condition that his name not be used.
He had been following news regarding the permanent closure of the Salvation Army香蕉视频直播檚 Lighthouse emergency shelter in May 2022 and BC Housing香蕉视频直播檚 months-long search for a site. He was upset to read that BC Housing recently said it was looking at all options.
香蕉视频直播淪o as the ship is sinking, we香蕉视频直播檙e investigating all options香蕉视频直播�,香蕉视频直播� he remarked.
香蕉视频直播淚 know there香蕉视频直播檚 a gentleman that said 香蕉视频直播業香蕉视频直播檒l do it. I香蕉视频直播檝e got the land, I香蕉视频直播檒l get it serviced. We香蕉视频直播檒l bring in portables.香蕉视频直播� A few weeks we were looking into that. We could have had housing set up, the camp-style housing within three weeks香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚n our culture, we香蕉视频直播檝e decided BC Housing is responsible and I think they have 1,000 per cent dropped the ball. How is it we can have this over here (he points to the tent encampment) at minus 30. It香蕉视频直播檚 wrong, it香蕉视频直播檚 so wrong.香蕉视频直播�
He said he香蕉视频直播檚 aware homelessness is a complex issue and there香蕉视频直播檚 no pat answer.
香蕉视频直播淏ut this, this, is ridiculous.香蕉视频直播�
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As the temperature grew colder earlier in the week he became more and more concerned. He checked out a possible place for an insulated sea can he had in his yard, but he said his spouse talked him out of it.
香蕉视频直播淪he said, 香蕉视频直播榯he liability, we could lose everything.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 sad, that we香蕉视频直播檙e liability-driven,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 about liability. Are you kidding me?香蕉视频直播�
He said one solution could be for the provincial government to set up a mechanism to cover liability so local groups could get together and solve such problems.
He was feeling conflicted that day and spoke to someone else who also warned of liability. He then called his son, who works with unhoused people in another community. His son said there香蕉视频直播檚 not that much liability and he had to do it.
香蕉视频直播淪omebody香蕉视频直播檚 got to do something.香蕉视频直播�
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At that moment on Dec. 20, he received a call from Ben香蕉视频直播檚 Towing. Manager Rachel Brown was calling at the end of her work day about something else, but he asked if the company香蕉视频直播檚 truck was available. He explained what he was thinking and she didn香蕉视频直播檛 hesitate. 香蕉视频直播榃e香蕉视频直播檙e on it.香蕉视频直播�
Three employees worked on the project until after 9 that night, he said.
香蕉视频直播淭hey actually had to use a tow truck to pull the truck away from the trailer they needed, because that truck wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 start. And then the container was frozen to the ground. But they got it down here. So they were just unbelievable. They got it down here, got it set up.香蕉视频直播�
Brown said the drivers are awesome and deserve credit.
香蕉视频直播淓verybody was pretty excited to do something like this.香蕉视频直播�
The 40-foot sea can container now sits across 3rd Street SE from the tent encampment, equipped with a generator. It contains chairs and couches, and people bring their own bedrolls.
The next need was portable toilets, which were provided thanks to another business person who also requested anonymity. He provided fuel for the generator as well.
香蕉视频直播淚f that was somebody香蕉视频直播檚 dog, it would have had a shelter,香蕉视频直播� he remarked.
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Dave Byers, who formerly worked at the Lighthouse shelter, also stepped up. He volunteered to oversee half of the 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. shift. He said about 12 people showed up Dec. 21, some coming and going. Neither drugs nor alcohol were permitted inside the sea can.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e just doing what needs to be done. Everybody has dropped the ball. I can香蕉视频直播檛 believe we seem to treat other sectors of our population and our dogs and cats, better than people living on the streets. I just can香蕉视频直播檛 believe in Canada we came to this,香蕉视频直播� Byers said.
He emphasized the need for a permanent shelter that must be set up next year well before the cold weather hits.
BC Housing stated on Dec. 19 that it has signed a four-month lease for a shelter site that will open in early January 2023 and may have more than the 16 beds the former Lighthouse shelter had. More details are expected within a week.
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At the new Caf茅 at the Lighthouse, which is a warming centre in the former shelter building, patrons look happy. It香蕉视频直播檚 currently open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Dec. 22, several people were sitting around a table which held an abundance of baked goods. Lieut. Joel Torrens of the Salvation Army noted the caf茅 has a fridge, microwave, television, piano, guitar, showers, laundry and a small hair salon.
Seated at the table is Dave Adams, who expressed his appreciation for the sea can.
香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 highly commendable what they did. And they did it at their own risk香蕉视频直播� We香蕉视频直播檝e been asking the council there, are you going to open up a shelter? Before the snow even fell, all we香蕉视频直播檝e heard is, we香蕉视频直播檙e talking about it, for months now. It香蕉视频直播檚 bloody cold out there and it香蕉视频直播檚 probably saving lives.香蕉视频直播�
Asked if he was comfortable in the sea can, he replied: 香蕉视频直播淐omfortable, as in I didn香蕉视频直播檛 freeze to death.香蕉视频直播�
He added he is grateful for community members.
香蕉视频直播淥n the flip side, the amount of community spirit the town has shown in the last while has been impressive.香蕉视频直播�
A woman named Debbie said she had a good sleep in the sea can. She香蕉视频直播檚 also grateful for the caf茅.
香蕉视频直播淥h yes. Where else would we go?香蕉视频直播�
She and others said they香蕉视频直播檙e thankful for the firewood that香蕉视频直播檚 been dropped off on the pallets by the tents, and they would appreciate more if it香蕉视频直播檚 available.
The man who owns the sea can said he remembers well the wildfire of 1998 that threatened Salmon Arm. He recalls the unity of the community, working against a common enemy.
香蕉视频直播淲e did what made sense, not just what was driven by liability concerns,香蕉视频直播� he said.
He香蕉视频直播檇 like to see the community have a real conversation about how people can work together so Salmon Arm will have an emergency shelter.
香蕉视频直播淥r people will die.香蕉视频直播�
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martha.wickett@saobserver.net
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