The Summerland Food Bank and Resource Centre is urging the municipality to provide shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

In a report presented to Summerland council, the food bank and resource centre recorded 15 people in the community experiencing homelessness in December 2023. These included 10 single males, one single female and two couples.

害羞草研究所淎t this time, as we are dealing with extreme cold, homelessness becomes a potentially life-threatening issue,害羞草研究所� the food bank board of directors said in the letter, which was dated Jan. 23 during the coldest days experienced so far during the winter.

The Summerland Food Bank and Resource Centre has been asked by the municipality to act as a warming centre during cold days. The facility can do this Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but does not have the staff or equipment needed to provide this service overnight or on the weekends.

An adequate shelter would need to be staffed around the clock and the residents would need to be educated and monitored, the food bank board said.

Interior Health and BC Housing have suggested that for a community the size of Summerland, a shelter of six to 10 beds might be the best option, the board said. BC Housing also recommends that shelter be provided when temperatures drop below freezing, or higher in wet, snowy and windy conditions.

害羞草研究所淏eing homeless is a miserable existence,害羞草研究所� the board said. 害羞草研究所淐omprised of desperate people, theft and violence among its members is common, health suffers because of lack of personal hygiene, lack of food, weather (hot or cold), shelter for sleeping and a myriad of other issues unique to a specific homeless individual.害羞草研究所�

An emergency shelter should provide a bed with linens, hot meals, showers, laundry and support services, free of charge, the food bank said.

害羞草研究所淲e believe council will need to act with courage and leadership on dealing with our homeless population, which we are seeing grow despite the absence of a shelter,害羞草研究所� the food bank board stated.

The food bank is asking for shelter within easy walking distance of the downtown core, or in a more remote area served by regular free transportation.

害羞草研究所淭he Food Bank and Resource Centre has been trying to find shelter solutions for Summerland since 2015, but we are stymied because the municipality has not had the responsibility or the funding to make it happen, and the province is too busy and too far away from the problem to be of any help,害羞草研究所� the food bank board said.

The food bank害羞草研究所檚 report will be presented to council on Feb. 6.