Emergency shelter sought in Happy Valley-Goose Bay

Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corp. is looking for a building in Happy Valley-Goose Bay that can be used as an emergency shelter.

NLHC wants a place that can be used to keep homeless people warm during the winter, and also be used to provide other services.

Morley Linstead, a regional team leader with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, wants a building that can do double duty.

"My ideal vision would be a location that would provide shelter, particularly in the winter, so it would be called an out of the cold program," Linstead told CBC. 

"There would be office space that would be connected with that area as well, where people would during the day might be able to connect with other community groups who offer supports already."

Linstead added that before a shelter is set up, residents in Happy Valley-Goose Bay will be consulted. 

"We've identified a good three or four properties that we think have potential ... but that being said, we acknowledge that residents have a right to have their say too," he said.

"So right now, we're looking at engaging residents in some sort of consultation."

Linstead said the emergency shelter would only be a temporary solution, and that more affordable housing is still needed in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

The closure of a boarding house in the town earlier this year left 32 people scrambling for accommodations.