Shelter spaces opening in Okanagan, B.C. ahead of winter

People experiencing, or at risk of homelessness, will have more shelter options to get out of the cold.

The province announced Friday operating agreements to open more shelter spaces in communities identified as in need would be finalized “in the coming weeks.”

The B.C. government said, through B.C. Housing, funding would be provided to open 5,000 shelter spaces in 50 communities throughout the province. Those include permanent shelter spaces open 24/7/365, temporary shelter spaces operating 24 hours a day in the winter months, and extreme weather-response shelters offered as needed from Oct. 15 to April 15.

No investments were announced for Vernon or the North Okanagan, but the province plans to open more beds in both Kelowna and Kamloops.