Vancouver homeless shelter evacuated due to flooding

More than 150 "vulnerable" people living in temporary housing in downtown Vancouver were evacuated from the building Monday night, after the building lost power due to flooding from heavy rains.

A "Do not occupy" notice is up on the door of the building, which is the former Quality Inn at 1335 Howe St.

It is operated by the City of Vancouver to house people who would otherwise be homeless, and offers rooms with a bathroom, rather than just a place to sleep like a shelter would.

It's not clear when the 155 residents, who city manager Penny Ballem describes as some of the "most vulnerable" people in the city, will be allowed back. Some have been living there for months.

Ballem says they're working with residents to make sure they have meals and shelter, and city workers and electrical contractors have been assessing the damage.

"The city is very anxious to get them back in. We're working as hard as we can to get it safe."

'It's not safe'

The flooding began Sunday, though the city was only told about it Monday at about 1 p.m. PT, at which point it took immediate action, said Ballem.

"[The fire department] basically resolved that it was not going to be possible to get power on and that we had to evacuate the building," she said. "It's not safe to have people in with absolutely no power."

Everyone was evacuated by about 10:30 p.m., and told to pack a small bag expecting to be out for two or three days, Ballem said. Buses were brought in and the street needed to be closed for the evacuation.

The electrical room, which is in the basement of the building, will have to be pumped out before power can be restored and residents will be allowed back, she said. A generator may be brought in in the meantime.

For now, the residents are staying at three locations including the gym at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown.