The Gateway of Hope homeless shelter added emergency beds to address the extreme, wet weather Langley was hit with on Friday and into Saturday.
Gateway opened up the emergency shelter for Friday, starting at 10 a.m. “due to heavy rain accumulating to more than 50 mm in the next 24 hours.”
The Gateway of Hope hasn’t had to open its emergency shelter for extreme weather very much this winter, given there has been mostly mild temperatures and no snow this season. However, the number of homeless people living in the downtown core area seems to be increasing or they are more visible.
The City of Langley is currently constructing a homeleness task force and are looking to hire a consultant who can navigate the complex channels of mental health and getting help for people living on the streets.
Mayor Ted Schaffer said recently that he is getting at least a call a week from concerned citizens who are encountering homeless people, their shopping carts and bikes. He said many feel intimidated and scared.
Langley RCMP Supt. Murray Power, in charge of the detachment, said the people living in the downtown core are rarely committing violent crimes but are committing petty crimes in nature and nuisance.
