The West Kelowna Shelter Society is looking for a new, permanent home for its homeless shelter, located at Emmanuel Church.
The current shelter location only operates 12 hours a day during the winter season, from November to March.
“During the cold winter months, we need a facility where we can be 24 hours a day,” says Society Secretary Andrew Hawkes. “Currently, BC Housing is in discussion with the City of West Kelowna, and they have a couple of locations that they’re talking about.”
Hawkes was unable to comment on where any of these potential locations would be.
While Emmanuel Church is open to hosting the shelter for another season, Hawkes says the best case scenario is finding a new location within the next two months.
Last season, the shelter increased its capacity to 30 beds, with an average of 25 guests staying there each night. Additionally, the shelter served average of 40 meals to those in need every day.