Deluge, cold trigger shelter protocols

Facilities roll out dozens of extra sleeping spaces

Steady rain and dropping temperatures were the cue to start the Greater Victoria Extreme Weather Protocol on Thursday.

Protocol co-ordinator Jen Wilde assesses weather reports and other factors on a daily basis, deciding if extra mats are needed to accommodate the homeless.

The protocol was last activated on New Year’s Eve.

“I literally have to check the weather every day,” she said.

The protocol is enacted in harsh weather conditions and/or sub-zero temperatures.

Thursday’s forecast called for up to 20 millimetres of rain and the temperature was at 3 C by late afternoon. There was the possibility of freezing rain overnight.

Daytime highs for the next few days are forecast in the 8-to-10 range .

Three shelter facilities equipped with a total of 85 extra sleeping spaces, were used Thursday — those at the Salvation Army Addictions and Rehabilitation Centre, Our Place and the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.

“That’s just our first tier of activation,” Wilde said. “If we require more shelter space … we also have another couple of spaces that we can open up.”

A long list of agencies, as well as police departments, are notified when the protocol takes effect, she said.

“Our mandate is to create enough shelter to make sure that anybody seeking shelter can access a shelter,” Wilde said. “We put it out on our Facebook page, we put it out on Twitter, [and] we also have a website, vewp.net.”

Police are there to help people get to shelters or advise them of what is open, said Victoria police Const. Matt Rutherford.

Anyone wanting to assist with the protocol can donate basic necessities at Our Place, Rock Bay Landing and the Addictions and Rehabilitation Centre, Wilde said.

Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan said rain is forecast into next week.