Langley residents needing to escape the heat that is forecast for the coming days have various options around the community.
• The Gateway of Hope, 5787 Langley Bypass, will have a cooling centre in operation from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 7 through to at least Tuesday, July 9.
"There will be a heat response cooling centre activation on July 7 for those experiencing homelessness and housing precarity," noted Cristina Schneiter, Gateway's residential services manager. "Outreach services will also be canvassing on foot and mobile to hand out heat supplies during this alert as per the info on the notification. The alert will be deactivated as the weather changes and no longer meets criteria [daytime highs over 30° Celsius]."
The cooling centre is pet friendly and will have a place to rest, lunch available from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and heat response supplies.
• Lower Fraser Valley Outreach Aboriginal Society (LFVAS) is open 9 a.m to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, offering heat response supplies available onsite, 20685 56 Ave)., as well as heat response outreach on foot Wednesday and Friday. For more information, call 604-427-2664.
• Stepping Stones Community Services Society. 1 pm to 4 pm. (M-F) Canvassing on foot and mobile. Heat response supplies. Phone 604.530.647
• The Integrated Homeless Action Response Team (IHART) will be out 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. canvassing on foot and mobile. It will have water, Gatorade, ice packs, and sunscreen. People can get more information at 236-632-2036.
Lookout Housing & Health Society will have help available 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. It offers harm reduction outreach and heat response supplies as part of its mobile outreach. It can be reached at 604-812-5277.
• Encompass Support Services Society's outreach services for youth up to 25 year of age offers water, Gatorade, heat response, and referrals. More information is at 604-546-1130.
• The Intensive Case Management Team (ICMT) is in operation 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. As part of its mobile outreach, it will have heat response supplies. The team's contact number is 604-209-0023.
"If you are outside in the heat please come to the safety of these spaces or connect with an outreach service," she added.
For more information about shelter availability, call bc211: 211 or 604-875-6381.
• READ MORE: Environment Canada issues multiple warning about high temperatures
• READ MORE: 11 people died of heat-related causes in 2023 in B.C.