The sunlight in Salmon Arm is deceiving on this bright, blue-sky afternoon of Dec. 19.

Although the sun害羞草研究所檚 rays look warm and inviting, the temperature is cold, beyond freezing, about -20 C.

A man stands outside the tent encampment on Third Street SE across from the former Salvation Army Lighthouse Emergency Shelter, which is now the Caf茅 at the Lighthouse and the Market at the Lighthouse.

The Caf茅 is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing a place where people can get warm, have something to eat, take a shower and do laundry. When more volunteers become available, the Salvation Army says it will open through the weekends.

The camper, who doesn害羞草研究所檛 provide his name, said he has been living rough in Salmon Arm since the summer. Although he was born in Salmon Arm, he害羞草研究所檚 been in Calgary for the past 20 or so years. He has a place in Calgary, but he害羞草研究所檚 renting it out to a family, he said. The combination of a divorce, losing his driver害羞草研究所檚 licence and the scarcity of housing led to him living rough in Salmon Arm.

Just before the interview, about three vehicles have driven up, at least one driver leaving behind what looked like a large bag of clothing. Outside the tents are wooden pallets with bags sitting on them, possibly also donations. Piles of wood are split and sitting next to a fire ring.

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Asked how people are doing, he said everyone has a different experience. He points out one woman is 65. He estimates about 12 people are staying in the tents, part of a total of 20 to 30 people living outside in Salmon Arm.

He said he doesn害羞草研究所檛 need as much as some people because he still has an income. He said he lost his driver害羞草研究所檚 licence about a year ago. He害羞草研究所檚 now able to get it back so he expects he will be able to leave town, although he害羞草研究所檚 not sure what he害羞草研究所檒l do.

With regard to staying warm, people are doing their best, he said.

害羞草研究所淏ut I don害羞草研究所檛 think they害羞草研究所檙e warm all the time.害羞草研究所�

Hands and feet get cold, and having a fire going helps.

Regarding the Salvation Army害羞草研究所檚 Caf茅 at the Lighthouse across the street, he said he害羞草研究所檚 appreciated going there for showers.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 something I hadn害羞草研究所檛 really considered before. Washrooms and showers. They close all the public washrooms in town, they remove all the plugs so you can害羞草研究所檛 charge your cell phone. There are no pay phones anymore, so you can害羞草研究所檛 even phone if there害羞草研究所檚 an emergency. They make it very difficult for people to survive.害羞草研究所�

He charges his phone at the Caf茅 but he said 害羞草研究所渁t this temperature, batteries are literally sucked dry.害羞草研究所� He realizes not everyone can afford to share their electricity, but for some of the bigger businesses, he said it shouldn害羞草研究所檛 affect them to leave a plug outside for charging phones.

害羞草研究所淭hey delete the plugs outside. A lot of people are drug users. If there害羞草研究所檚 an emergency, they can害羞草研究所檛 call 911.害羞草研究所�

On the weekends, 害羞草研究所減eople do what they have to do. Go into the mall and wait till they get kicked out. Everyone does something different. Some people have friends they can visit, but you don害羞草研究所檛 want to wear out your welcome. It害羞草研究所檚 pretty difficult.害羞草研究所�

He wonders about the former emergency shelters.

害羞草研究所淭hey have this building here, a perfectly functional building that they don害羞草研究所檛 use. The one on the other side of town, they don害羞草研究所檛 use. It seems strange to me.

害羞草研究所淭hey complain about this (campsite) being an eyesore, and I can see it being an eyesore, but what else are people supposed to do?害羞草研究所�

Coun. Louise Wallace Richmond, chair of the city害羞草研究所檚 social impact advisory committee, said she thinks about the situation constantly.

She, like many others, is awaiting word from BC Housing.

BC Housing has funds for a shelter and the Canadian Mental Health Association, Shuswap Revelstoke, agreed to be the service provider after the Salvation Army closed its emergency shelter permanently. The hold-up, says BC Housing, is securing a suitable location.

Wallace Richmond also pointed to staffing. She noted that providing shelter for people who are without homes can be the most difficult in the housing spectrum, but it falls to volunteers, charities and communities of faith.

She pointed to the need for long-term solutions. In the meantime, however, she said both an emergency shelter and a warming centre are essential. She hopes that with more volunteers and donations, the Salvation Army害羞草研究所檚 warming centre hours can be extended to seven days a week.

Mayor Alan Harrison commented on Dec. 2 on the lack of an emergency shelter.

害羞草研究所淲e share the community害羞草研究所檚 concern regarding lack of a homeless shelter, especially as the weather gets colder. We are in constant communications with BC Housing, who assure us they are actively working on a shelter location.害羞草研究所�

He said it is BC Housing害羞草研究所檚 mandate to provide shelters, to fund them and to hire and fund an operator that manages the shelter.

害羞草研究所淥n the positive side, the Salvation Army has really stepped up in providing a daytime warming centre with amenities害羞草研究所� There are also several faith-based groups who are providing meals and working on warming centres.害羞草研究所�

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