Another 15 mats are now available this fall and winter at the Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministry on particularly nasty nights in Maple Ridge.
The spaces will be available whenever the community determines there is an extreme weather alert, that is, it's too cold or wet. "Cold and wet weather has arrived early this year, and it is vital that everyone has a safe and dry place to sleep. These temporary spaces at the Salvation Army … will complement our current number of permanent spaces," said Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Doug Bing in a release.
The B.C. government funds almost 2,000 permanent shelter beds around B.C. where people can stay throughout the day, with meals included.
The Salvation Army in Maple Ridge also offers 25 emergency beds on a permanent basis while the temporary homeless shelter nearby has another 40 beds.
A proposal to build a new shelter at 213th Street and Lougheed Highway has been delayed after Maple Ridge city council passed on the consultation process to MLAs Doug Bing and Marc Dalton.