3 days ago
Swift News
Those experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Trail, B.C., were left out in the cold last week after the city’s emergency overnight shelter was barred from opening for not meeting provincial building codes.
The B.C. Coroners Service said at least one person died outdoors when temperatures dropped below freezing in the city, which is located in the Kootenays, about 400 kilometres east of Vancouver.
Colleen Jones, the mayor of Trail, said for the last two years, the city has run an emergency weather response shelter out of the local United Church basement whenever overnight temperatures drop below -10 C.
“We're in a crisis mode right now. We have toxic drugs on our street and we have a housing crisis,” said Jones.
Last weekend, Interior Health issued a toxic drug overdose alert for the area after the veterinary tranquilizer medetomidine, was detected in the local supply.
Jones said this year, an inspector from the Regional District of the Kootenay Boundary joined the local fire department for a site inspection.
She was surprised to learn the district ruled the church basement did not meet B.C.’s building codes since it did not have an indoor sprinkler system.
Another emergency shelter space in a gymnasium was offered as an alternative and inspected, but it too did not have sprinklers.
“We've got old buildings. We don't have brand new buildings where we can set up shelters with sprinkler systems,” said Jones.