B.C. to fund more Vancouver shelters

The B.C. government has agreed to pay $1 million to open two more homeless shelters in Vancouver, after Mayor Gregor Robertson criticized the province over a lack of funding.

The turnaround comes a day after it was revealed that a full homeless shelter at the First United Church in downtown Vancouver wasforced to turn away 27 peoplein one night.

A 40-bed facility under the Granville Bridge is expected to open in a few days, while a 60-space shelter at Mount St Joseph's Hospital will open its doors in a couple of weeks.

'When the winter's hitting us, we've got tomake sure we have the beds to make available' Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson

Housing Minister Rich Coleman told CBCNews he was disappointed Robertson had gone to the media rather than discuss the issue directly with his ministry.

The mayor defended his approach, sayingemotions were running high because people's lives are at stake.

"We cannot hold back at this point, when the winter's hitting us we've got to make sure we have the beds to make available," he said.

Robertsonpreviously estimatedatleast 160 people wouldn't have bedsthis winterbecause the provincehad refused to provideoperating funds for four shelters the cityis ready to open. The city says existing shelters are alreadyat capacity.

"It's just deplorable that the B.C. government isn't responding more proactively on this and thatwe end up in this crisis yet again," Robertson said.

Shelterforced to turn away homeless

On Wednesday, almost 270 people sought shelter at the First United Church, locatedat the intersection of Gore Avenue and Hastings Street in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

The shelter reached capacity and27 people were turned away because of fire safety bylaws.

Ric Matthews, the pastor at First United Church, said it was a difficult night.

"Twenty-seven people who were met and face-to-face were told that despite the fact that we know you and care about you and relate to you and understand that you have no other place to go...you cannot come into this building. You are out on the streets," Matthews said.

Jason Watt, a shift manager at First United Church, saidthat left people angry and scared.

"It was very emotional. There was a lot of swearing, there was a lot of... I mean I had my life threatened, I got spit on," Watt said.

"People were pleading to come inside because it was cold out. I couldn't even let one woman in to use the washroom."

Vancouver Fire Chief John McKearney said the shelter has an occupancy limit of 240.

"I will be sending staff on a regular basis to verify the occupany load limit, and I will have staff remain there until they become compliant in order to ensure safety," McKearney said.