Vancouver to open winter shelters after addressing community concerns [Video]

VANCOUVER Wash. (KPTV) – The City of Vancouver is set to open emergency and severe weather shelters on Saturday as part of its homeless emergency declaration.

“The emergency we declared, there’s a reason for this, treating it like a crisis so that’s what we are doing,” said Jamie Spinelli, Vancouver’s homeless response manager.

The city offered tours of two locations on Friday – one in the Art Hub Building and the other at 521 Chkalov Drive.

The overnight spaces will be open from 6:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. and will prioritize families, elderly people and those most vulnerable in winter weather conditions. The shelters hold 60 beds total between the two, along with social services and support for service animals.

“This is saving lives, intended to help people stabilize so they can move forward. Very difficult to do that, especially outside in these types of temperatures,” Spinelli said.

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