A shelter for those who need refuge during the winter months is coming to Courtenay.
At yesterday nights council meeting the city decided to move forward with the idea, first proposed by the Comox Valley Transition Society back in October.
The organization has been searching for somewhere to operate a warming centre as part of its work with the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness.
The city agreed to make a portion of the building located at 685 Cliffe Avenue, available to be used as a warming centre on a temporary basis.
Councillor Doug Hillan says that although they wanted to see the center put in place sooner, it’s good to have it operational.
“We had hoped to have something like this in place much earlier, we’re obviously in the middle of winter but challenges came up. It’s to the credit of our transition society and all those coalition people and our city staff that those challenges have been worked through and a resolution has come up to actually be able to provide this service,” said Hillian.
The warming center will be open from now until March 31st when the agreement between the city and the Transition Society expires.
The city says the center will be the responsibility of the Comox Valley Transition Society and it will help by making sure the utilities including heat, electricity, and maintenance of the building are taken care of.
