Church won’t host shelter

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Jan 14 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Cold weather has sent the homeless scrambling, but it’s still not known if a women’s shelter will open. It had been hoped an emergency facility would open early this week, but All Saints Anglican Church has been ruled out as a possible location because of concerns from one of its existing tenants. “We were not prepared to go ahead without their endorsement,” said the Rev. Canon Chris Harwood-Jones.

All three of the tenants provide programs to children, and among the issues that had to be considered was safety procedures related to the shelter. “There’s reality and perception and parents have to feel comfortable about their children,” said Harwood-Jones. “It’s within their rights and responsibilities to turn it down. I won’t blame and shame them because they have a responsibility to their children.”

The Social Planning Council, which is overseeing the process to establish a shelter, is aware of the situation at All Saints. “We respect the process and if the tenants aren’t comfortable, we won’t push,” said Annette Sharkey, executive director. “We’ve been working behind the scenes because we thought this may be possible. We’re looking at another possible location but they also have to go through a process.” Even with 30 volunteers receiving training Friday, Sharkey won’t commit to when a shelter may open.

“At this point, we can’t say, but everything is happening so quickly. We’re not panicking,” she said. Harwood-Jones says that members of his congregation are still interested in the issue of the shelter and ensuring there is eventually a permanent facility for women in need. “It puts the issue back into the community’s lap. Is there a location for this facility? The need and interest isn’t going away,” he said.

There was some good news Thursday when the city’s finance committee recommended to council that $5,000 be provided to a shelter. “It shows the city is really behind us,” said Sharkey. MLA Tom Christensen is also trying to determine if there are provincial funds available. The drop in temperatures has Coun. Juliette Cunningham demanding the city develop a strategy for such instances. “We need a plan to make sure no one is left out in the cold,” she said, adding Vancouver has such an initiative in place. “We need to see how they handle it and what agencies are involved.”