VIDEO: New-look shelters brace for growing demand

There's a different look to our emergency shelters, but the need is the same. In fact, it's intensified.

"I think with COVID we saw a lot of people fall out of work and can't pay the rent," said Amber Webster-Kotak. She manages the Welcome Inn at the corner of Ellis and Coronation at the northern edges of Kelowna's downtown.

Gone are the rows of beds, in one big open space, replaced by bunks, tucked into a matrix of walls giving each person their own separate spot.

"Because it's COVID, they've come up with this solution to keep people appropriately physically distanced," said Webster-Kotak.

"They're liked cubicles, but the great benefit is that people have a little bit of privacy."

She said we have COVID to thank for what is really a big benefit. Especially for women.

"Many of our shelters now are coed," noted Webster-Kotak. "If you can imagine feeling vulnerable in whatever way that is, having that little bit added bit of privacy means a greater feeling of safety and a greater feeling of security."

The result of the change is a facility that's more in keeping with the name Welcome Inn.

"There's a bedside table, it's all moveable, it's wipeable," she said. "Thankfully, we have these little storage bins because, you know, we all have stuff."

The emergency shelter will be open by Sunday, which is good news after an early blast of winter in October. A second emergency shelter on Doyle Ave in the former Daily Courier building is expected in the weeks ahead, and it can't come soon enough to meet the demand.

"Every community is really struggling with a growing homeless population," said Webster-Kotak.

"I think these two shelters are going to put a humungous dent in the concern," she offered. "Will it tackle everything? "I'm not sure."