THE North Shore's homeless shelter is bracing for a cold winter, with four cold-weather emergency days declared since Nov. 15, the most recent of those in the past week.
On the busiest nights so far, between seven and 10 extra people bedded down on mats in the shelter's communal living room.
"Our regular beds are always full," said Dave Newberry, community liaison for the shelter. "We're expecting it to be a cold winter."
When temperatures dip below freezing - or there is cold rain with temperatures around 4 C for three days straight - the shelter is funded for 20 extra people a night, who are provided sleeping mats, on top of its regular 45-bed roster.
When a cold-weather emergency is called, police, shelter outreach workers and staff at the Salvation Army and Canadian Mental Health offices are all notified, so they can let people know who may be sleeping rough outdoors.
If the shelter's own extra mats are full, staff also have the ability to open more emergency sleeping space at North Shore Neighbourhood House, said Newberry.
Last winter's La Nina prompted the North Shore shelter, operated by the Lookout Emergency Aid Society, to declare many more emergency weather days than usual. A similar La Nina weather phenomenon is forecast to bring cold temperatures to the Lower Mainland again this winter.
Some advocates for the homeless have worried that the province's decision last month to cut funding for four temporary Vancouver shelters will put additional pressure on regular shelters throughout the Lower Mainland.
So far that hasn't happened, said Newberry, adding most homeless people don't travel too far when seeking help.
The shelter is currently looking for donations of warm winter clothes, said Newberry, including hats, gloves, socks, underwear and rain gear. Flashlights and toiletries are also on the wish list.
