At its January 20 meeting, Penticton City Council will consider next steps for the emergency shelter at 441 Dawson Avenue as part of ongoing efforts to support community safety and address urgent housing needs.
The current temporary use permit and shelter operations are set to expire on March 31, 2026. Council will be asked whether to proceed with further work on the shelter’s future, including seeking input from the Public Safety Advisory Committee and community partners, before deciding whether to bring forward an extension for consideration at a later date.
The Dawson Avenue shelter has operated 24/7 since November 2024 and has shown positive results as part of the broader housing and homelessness response. Over the past year, the shelter has supported 161 individuals, successfully connecting 28 to permanent housing and many others to treatment programs and essential health services. Operations have been supported through collaboration with the RCMP, Fire Services, Bylaw Services, and the local business community, including the Penticton Industrial Development Association and the Chamber of Commerce.
“The shelter has played an important role for people in crisis while also supporting broader community safety,” said Blake Laven, general manager of development services. “Council’s discussion on January 20 is about considering how best to move forward, while longer-term housing solutions continue to be developed.”
If council supports bringing forward another temporary use permit, next steps could include referral to the City’s Public Safety Committee and preliminary discussions with the Province regarding potential operational considerations, including funding. If no extension is approved, the shelter is scheduled to close on March 31, 2026.
More information, including the Council report, is available at Penticton.ca. The upcoming City Council meeting begins at 1 p.m. in Council Chambers and will be livestreamed. More information about the City’s homelessness initiatives, can be found at Penticton.ca/homelessness.