Beacon Community Services

OUT OF THE RAIN YOUTH SHELTER

About Out of the Rain

Out of the Rain works to reduce the risks faced by homeless youth by supplying a warm, safe and dry environment for youth aged 15 to 25. Morning and evening meals are provided for up to 30 youth each night. In 2010, over 250 youth were supported by this program.

Trained staff supervise the shelter each night. In addition to tending to the immedidate needs of the youth and lending a friendly ear, these youth workers also aim to empower youth by providing support and referrals to community based programs.

The shelter operates 7 days a week, from October to April, rotating among hosts sites in the community in an effort to maximize community resources.

Schedule

Start Date: October 15, 2011, continuing through April 15, 2012.
Pets welcome unless otherwise noted.

Monday	St. John's Church - 1611 Quadra Entrance off Mason Street, down the stairs	10pm-8am
Tuesday	First Metropolitan United Church - 932 Balmoral Entrance is the double doors close to the road. Sign says "Out of the Rain."	10pm-8am
Wednesday	St. Andrew's Presbyterian - 680 Courtney Entrance off Courtney St.	10pm-8am
Thursday	Beacon Community Services CAP Building - 1450 Elford St.	10pm-8am
Friday	Boys' and Girls' Clubs - 1240 Yates St. Entrance is the double gym doors down the driveway to the right of the main entrance.	10pm-8am
Saturday	Congregation Emanu-El - 1461 Blanshard St. (No Pets)	10pm-8am
Sunday	Downtown Community Activity Centre - 755 Pandora Ave. (No Pets)	10pm-7am

Contact

Shelter Phone Number 250-415-3856

Volunteer / Donation Number: 250-884-3701
Please call this number if you are interested in
donating or volunteering, or if you have questions.

History

In 1997, a group of downtown outreach workers, frustrated at the lack of sheltering services for street youth in Victoria, were determined to find a place for Victoria's street youth to sleep at night. These workers, in collaboration with a group of youth, began asking around downtown Victoria for places willing to open their doors to house the youth. A coalition of community and faith-based organizations was formed and the Out of the Rain Youth Shelter was born. At inception the purpose was simple: to provide a warm, safe place for homeless youth to sleep throughout the coldest months of the year. The doors opened in the winter of 1998 for six months and they have been open every winter season since.

Out of the Rain has been operating for 12 years, helping over 4,000 of Victoria’s homeless youth.

Just a few years ago, the now flourishing Out of the Rain Youth Shelter was on the brink of shutting down. In November 2006, Beacon Community Services stepped forward to act as the lead agency for Out of the Rain, working in partnership with Victoria’s faith-based community and social service agencies.

Learn more about Victoria's homeless population in the Victoria Cool Aid Society's Homeless Needs Survey.

The Coalition

Additional support is provided by:

St. Aidan's United Church
Fairfield United Church
Individual Community Volunteers