As the cold snap continues to get worse here in Kamloops, the main shelter downtown is being inundated with people looking for some relief from the frigid temperatures.

Renee Stein is the Executive Director of Out of the Cold, the group which runs the Stuart Wood Elementary shelter.

She says they’re getting 15 to 20 more people in per night than the 25 they can accommodate.

Stein says while they’re being hit with increasing need, there is inter-agency coordination to try to ensure as many people can find shelter as possible.

“We work closely with our partner agencies to transfer folks over to the Alliance Church,” said Stein.  “Then anybody who is not able to get a shelter bed, then we’ll retain them in our warming center here as well too.”

The warming center provides a place for people to avoid the cold, but doesn’t give them a bed to sleep on.

Stein says while there is added pressure on the Stuart Wood facility, she says they’re coping.

“I’m blessed to have an amazing staffing group. They have jumped in and made themselves available for day shifts to get us through the cold snap,” said Stein.  “I have folks who would normally be on their days off jumping in.”

Stein does concede that it’s likely that not everyone who is street-bound in Kamloops is finding a space to stay during this cold snap.