Tent city has been dismantled with the final tent coming down on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 28, after the province and city rushed to open an emergency shelter that will accommodate 25 people in need.
There were a few disturbances reported to Prince Rupert RCMP at tent city on the lawn outside city hall. Last week, RCMP were called to tent city five times. On Thursday evening, Nov. 23, a resident of tent city was arrested for causing a disturbance while intoxicated. They were released with no charges.
VIDEO: Homeless shelter opens with 25 beds
Due to volunteer efforts, food and in-kind donations — and a budget of approximately $93,500 from BC Housing — the city was able to open an extreme weather response shelter on Third Avenue West. The funding was allocated to the North Coast Transition Society, the organization that will run the shelter, until the end of March 2018.
But despite the temporary emergency shelter being in the hands of the North Coast Transition Society, the Prince Rupert Salvation Army will continue to manage the 12-bed year-round homeless shelter out of Raffles Inn. BC Housing confirmed that the Salvation Army is receiving approximately $168,000 in 2017/2018 to operate the homeless shelter.
The year-round shelter has been receiving support from the province through BC Housing since November 2005.
shannon.lough@thenorthernview.com
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