More winter shelter beds open

More homeless residents are able to get out of the cold in Vernon.

Turning Points Collaborative Society has expanded its temporary winter shelter program by five beds. meaning 25 people can now be accommodated nightly until the end of March.

Prior to this, shelter staff have been having to turn away up to six people a day.

“It’s not that we are seeing an increase in our community of people experiencing homelessness, it is just that many people who have been sleeping rough are now looking to come in from the cold,” said Lisa Church, manager of the Gateway and temporary winter shelters. “By expanding the temporary winter shelter program, we hope to accommodate the individuals wanting to come in from the cold.”