Sally Ann opens cooling shelters in DTES to combat record heat

With Metro Vancouver in the midst of a heat wave and parts of the province reaching record highs, the Salvation Army is responding by opening cooling shelters for Vancouver’s most vulnerable in the Downtown Eastside.

Environment Canada issued a heat warning on Monday and temperatures are expected to hit the low 30s in parts of Metro Vancouver over the next few days.

Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light is opening up safe places for folks in the DTES to cool down and get some water at three locations along Cordova Street:

The Salvation Army Beacon, 138 East Cordova St.;

The Salvation Army Crosswalk, 136 East Cordova St.;

The Salvation Haven, 128 East Cordova St.

“We are ultimately concerned for the safety of our community,” says Salvation Army Harbour Light executive director Jim Coggles. “Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to ensure people are getting what they need during this time.”

The Salvation Army is asking the public to help by donating bottled water, hats and sunscreen at the Harbour Light Centre at 119 East Cordova St. in Vancouver.

“For people living on the street, a lot of them already deal with severe health problems ... and have limited access to services, and the heat just exacerbates things,” said Salvation Army spokesperson Mike Leland. “Anything we can do to alleviate those conditions, whether it’s providing them water, sunscreen, hats or keeping them cool by getting them off the street, we are going to do.”