KELOWNA – Most Kelowna residents have the luxury of staying indoors while a blanket of smoke sits over the valley, but Kelowna’s homeless population does not. So Kelowna’s Gospel Mission is staying open 24/7 to help people if they want to escape the smoke.
Kelowna’s Gospel Mission extends its hours any time there is extreme weather outside, whether it’s too hot, too cold or too smoky. Staff say the longer hours are appreciated by their clients and nearly all 94 beds are occupied every night.
The mission typically closes for two hours each afternoon.
“This is normally a time where we have our staff meetings and we have some clean-up and so there has to be a bit of an adjustment for that, but generally the staff and volunteers are really good with this and it has been no problem at all,” says executive director Randy Benson.
The shelter will remain open 24/7 until the smoke dissipates.
– with files from Courtney Harrison
Comments