The wait appears to be over for homeless women left out in the cold hoping for a shelter of their own.The Canadian Mental Health Association has offered to host a temporary shelter for the next 10 weeks. Interviews to hire staff will start this weekend and once the positions are filled, the shelter’s doors will open.“I’m just so excited and impressed with the community and the way everybody came together,” said Annette Sharkey of the Social Planning Council for the North Okanagan. “This wouldn’t happen without support from the community.”Sharkey said that they hope to have the shelter opened by the end of next week. She said she is thrilled that the mental health association has come forward but is also appreciative of the efforts of the All Saints Anglican Church, which is contributing many volunteers for the shelter.The 15-bed shelter at 3610 25th St. will be funded through an $18,900 grant from the provincial government, $5,000 from the City of Vernon and $8,000 in contributions from other local sources.“A lot of people in the community have pulled together and made commitments to make sure a women’s shelter in Vernon has the proper resources and support,” said Okanagan-Vernon MLA Tom Christensen. “That’s why the province has no hesitation in doing our part to make it a reality.”
Sharkey said the shelter’s organizers are looking for a more permanent location. She said the support shown by the community will make it easier to secure funding for a long-term site.The shelter will open at 8 p.m. and accept women looking for a bed until 11 p.m. The following morning, women can stay until 7 a.m. By 10 a.m. the Vernon Women’s Centre opens which offers laundry, shower and other services to homeless women.A second training session for shelter volunteers is scheduled for Jan. 24. Thirty women came out to the last session but Sharkey said they will need a steady flow of volunteers. The session runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the People Place. For more information contact Louise at 545-0181
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