Times-Chronicle Staff
There will be no cold weather shelter established in Oliver United Church.
That’s confirmed by church trustee Hugh Chown, who informed the Town of Oliver by letter that the church council unanimously voted to withdraw its building from being used as a shelter for the homeless during the winter.
Town council previously entertained an application for a temporary use permit to allow the shelter to operate in the church basement. But during a virtual open house last December, many residents spoke against the proposal, citing concerns about crime and public safety.
Since then, alternate locations have been sought for the shelter. Council is currently looking at town-owned land adjacent to the food bank on Station Street, where trailers could be used to house the homeless in cold weather.
