Prince George's women's and men's shelters are well over-capacity this winter and operators say the length of time individuals are staying is growing.
Staff at three local shelters say they have been near or over capacity most nights over the winter. Some say there has been a growth in homeless numbers since the wildfires last summer, as low-income individuals have stayed behind due to greater access to services and potential job opportunities.
Looking ahead, temperatures are expected to dip down to -18 C over the weekend, further increasing demand for shelter.
Karen Underhill, executive director of Phoenix Transition Society, which operates a 24-hour shelter for women and children, said the needs of residents are constant and increasing.
"There has not been a quiet time in a long time," Underhill said.
"The need has increased and the length of stay is longer."
Underhill believes the increase in shelter residents is related to rent increases in the Prince George area, as well as low rental vacancy rates. This winter, she said the average length of stay is between five and six months.
Underhill said there are many reasons for individuals seeking the support services of a shelter.
"It could be domestic violence, it could be abuse, it could be neighbours, it could be 'I got my Hydro disconnected.'"
Between October and December, Underhill said Phoenix has provided transitional housing for 65 women. However, Phoenix has had to refer or has been unable to help 75 women.
Connie Abe, executive director of the Association Advocating for Women and Community (AWAC) said she has seen an increase in individuals from surrounding towns in the region since last summer's wildfires.
"There are a lot of new faces we're seeing in the shelter," Abe said.
"Some came because of the evacuations. But others came because they had a job and that fell through."
However, Active Support Against Poverty executive director Audrey Schwartz, which runs the Bridget Moran Place shelter, said she has not noticed an uptick in out-of-town residents.
After conducting an informal survey one evening, she found that the vast majority of residents were from the Prince George area.
Last week, Schwartz said Bridget Moran was providing shelter for 54 individuals. The shelter's extreme winter weather capacity is normally 40 beds.
"We've been overcapacity all winter," Schwartz said.
The provincial government is expected to hold a public meeting in relation to housing policy and its upcoming poverty reduction strategy. The meeting will take place Saturday, Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. at the Prince George Native Friendship Centre at 1600 3rd Ave.
