MEDIA RELEASE
Plans are in place this winter to again provide temporary emergency shelter for people who are experiencing homelessness during extreme weather conditions. As of November 1, participating organizations are on alert.
The “Extreme Weather Protocol” (EWP) is a community program involving shelter providers, faith groups, social service agencies, fire and police to increase the number of shelter beds available during acute winter weather conditions such as wind, heavy rain, and snow or freezing temperatures.
Under the recently released plans for the region, the Greater Victoria EWP has increased its response area to include the District of Sooke. The Sooke Baptist Church will be providing 10 mats to accommodate the remote areas of Sooke, East Sooke, Beecher Bay Reserve, Otter Point, Shirley,
Jordan River and Port Renfrew. The triggers for activation of this shelter service will be made independently of the Victoria/Saanich response plan.
The Victoria/Saanich Plan will be issuing alerts using a two tiered system; when the EWP has been activated, all participating shelters will be opened at a reduced capacity. Once capacity has been reached at all shelters, the second tier will be activated to increase the number of mats to full capacity of each individual shelter. This will allow the program to respond to the diverse needs of people using the shelters by ensuring that there are multiple sites open at any given time.

MEDIA RELEASE
Emergency shelter programs open year-round in Victoria offer 175 beds with an additional 85 being offered seasonally from October to March by Beacon Community Services “Out of the Rain
Youth Shelter” and Cool Aid’s “St John the Divine shelter”. The first tier of extreme weather mats would open an additional 70 mats at the Salvation Army A.R.C., Our Place and the Victoria Native
Friendship Centre. The second tier opens up an additional 35 mats in the same locations. In total,
365 (375 including Sooke) places for people to sleep are available during the most extreme winter weather.
The response plans are activated by the Regional Coordinator on a daily basis and are triggered by the following criteria:
 Temperatures near zero with rainfall that makes it difficult or impossible for people to remain dry
 Sleet/freezing rain
 Snow accumulation
 Sustained high winds
 Temperatures at or below -2 Celsius
 Shelter occupancy and feedback from clientele may be considered
The program is supported by local shelters, faith groups and social service agencies, the City of
Victoria, District of Saanich, District of Sooke and the Province of British Columbia through BC
Housing’s Extreme Weather Response Program.
The EWP are currently recruiting volunteers and staff for all locations. If you wish to donate time, funds or equipment to this community project, please contact Jen Bacon at jen@vewp.net
.

MEDIA RELEASE
A “Soup Can Drive” will be held in Sooke on Saturday, November 9 th from 1-4pm @ the Stick in the Mud
( 6715 Eustace Rd).
The EWP are asking for donations of canned soup for the clients accessing the shelter. (Other items needed are packages of instant oatmeal & granola/fruit/protein bars.) Jen Bacon will be available to answer questions about the program and the new shelter in Sooke.
For More Information:
Regional Coordinator
Greater Victoria Extreme Weather Protocol
CELL: 250.896.4012
EMAIL: jen@vewp.net
WEBSITE: www.vewp.net