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Homeless Burnaby residents get access to free warm showers

Free warm showers are being promoted by a Burnaby anti-homelessness group for people who are “living rough.”

Free warm showers are being promoted by a Burnaby anti-homelessness group for people who are “living rough.”

The Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby - established to provide leadership and collaborative planning towards the reduction and ultimately, resolution of homelessness in Burnaby – posted on its website that the free warm showers were available at the city-run Burnaby Lake Rugby Club.

 Shower/ShutterstockShower/Shutterstock

This includes designated male and female showers. The showers are available daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with hours extended during the summer until 10 p.m.

According to the society’s Karen O’Shannacery, getting people access to warm showers was a key item for the Burnaby task force on homelessness.

“For a while we’ve been trying to get access to warm showers for people who are living rough,” she said. “It’s a major health concern if you can’t get clean.”

The society raises money and works toincrease community awareness of homelessness in Burnaby and support the finding of solutions.

“Homelessness is a life-threatening health hazard,” according to a statement on the society’s website by Wanda Mulholland. “This disturbing fact is increasingly shown amongst our Burnaby neighbours living in long-term poverty and homelessness.

Since 2006, 45 known Burnaby individuals have died as a result of homelessness and long-term poverty. The average age at time of death is 42. Since the 2014 Homeless Count, 24 Burnaby citizens have died. Fifteen homeless people have died in the past year. Fentanyl has not been specifically reported in any of these deaths.”

For more information on how to support the society, visit burnabyhomeless.org.