Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is EWR Shelter?
The Extreme Weather Response (EWR) program is a BC Housing program that provides funds for community-based services to provide extra emergency shelter spaces during periods of extreme winter weather, that threatens the health and safety of individuals who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.
EWR is designed to fund time-limited, temporary additional shelter spaces that can open during extreme weather to provide a space to anyone who wants to come inside. The Temporary Winter Shelter (TWS) Program operates as a seasonal shelter during winter months and are typically open from October 1 to April 30.
2) Who is operating and coordinating the shelter?
The program at BVU is a partnership with the District of Saanich and Our Place Society. The shelter will be operated by Our Place and BVU will be coordinating volunteers for meal preparation and hospitality.
3) When would a shelter be activated?
When the District of Saanich issues an Extreme Weather Alert (EWA) including, but not limited to the following criteria:
➢ According to Environment and Climate Change Canada temperatures are forecast to be, for the next 24-hour period, or temperatures currently are 0 degrees Celsius or lower, OR feel like 0 degrees Celsius or lower (due to other factors such as high winds above 70km/hrs, sleet or freezing rain) and/or snow accumulations).
4) Where would the shelter be and what would be the hours of operation?
Ground floor, at the HUB; set up is anticipated to start at 6 pm, shelter to be open from 8 pm to 7 am.
5) Are all the bookings in the building be cancelled when the shelter is activated?
Only the evening bookings at the HUB on the ground floor will be cancelled, shall a shelter be activated. No fees will be applied for those cancelled dates, BVU will do their best to reschedule events.
6) How much notice will be given if a building booking needs to be cancelled?
BVU will notify the user as soon as possible, upon reception of the activation alert. Due to the nature of rapid weather changing conditions, alerts are often issued with a very short notice, BVU appreciates user’s flexibility and understanding.
