The Creston Valley Den Society was officially registered in March, 2024.
The Creston Valley Den Society exists to serve, with dignity, the unhoused and marginally housed in our community. Through access to emergency or transitional housing, programs and education, and by fostering a supportive community, we can provide a road to safety and hope
Prior to becoming a registered Society, a few founding members of the Den had been instrumental in establishing an “Out of the Cold” Winter Shelter in Creston from January to March, 2024.
In the fall of 2023, they had observed a number of unhoused and marginally housed individuals, with nowhere else to go, who had set up tents on the lawn of Trinity United Church in Creston. While most church members were sympathetic, it was clear that this was not a sustainable solution for the unhoused as bitter winter weather approached.
A team from Trinity United approached the Town of Creston for use of the empty, former ambulance building as a temporary shelter. Over $30,000 in local donations were raised in a matter of weeks and BC Housing reached out to provide assistance. The Out of the Cold shelter opened its doors on January 1, 2024, operated by Trinity United Church, with the guidance of BC Housing. Creston’s unhoused and marginally housed were sheltered, just in time to save them from the bitterest winter cold spell in recent memory.
There were a few bumps along the way as a result of furnishing, staffing, training and developing policy and procedure measures, all within a matter of weeks. However, by all reasonable standards, this emergency shelter was a great success. Unfortunately, its doors closed on March 31, 2024, and the unhoused and marginally housed were back on the street. Fifteen individuals were served at this shelter.
At the same time, the Creston Valley Den Society attained Registered Society status. We developed all of the documentation and paperwork required of a non-profit society including by-laws, code of conduct, mission, values, membership guidelines, Board of Directors, etc. Our Friends of the Den membership has grown and currently stands at over 150 individuals.
In June 2025, the Creston Valley Den Society submitted an application for Registered Charity Status to the Canada Revenue Agency. Our application has been accepted and we are waiting in the CRA queue for approval.
Our main goal in the spring of 2024 was to ensure that a Shelter for the unhoused and marginally housed would be established in Creston before the winter of 2024.
In April, the Town of Creston had stated in a press release that they would be working with BC Housing and the Creston Valley Den Society to establish a homeless shelter. To that end, the Den looked for suitable available properties and kept in contact with our BC Housing representative, Katrina McKeown. Our volunteer Board members also provided outreach, food, and harm reduction supplies to the unhoused and marginally housed on the streets over the ensuing months.
In June 2024, the Town of Creston released a Request for Proposals for lease or sale of the former Ambulance Building (our Out of the Cold location). As a result, the Den Society spent the summer preparing a detailed Proposal (based on the Town of Creston’s template requirements) for use of this building as a Temporary Winter Shelter, with funding and operational guidance from BC Housing and over a dozen letters of support from local and regional agencies, service providers, and previous shelter neighbors.
In September 2024, we also wrote an extensive response to the Town’s additional questions.
Unfortunately, the Town of Creston did not approve this proposal in time to meet BC Housing’s deadline in September. They have subsequently denied any use of the former Ambulance Building by the Den Society in service of the unhoused and marginally housed – either day or nighttime use, although they did access it for a “Warming Center” for approximately three weeks during the winter. No alternatives were presented by the Town of Creston, though a survey they completed with Town residents in November, 2024 indicated a higher than 70% support for an overnight winter shelter (at minimum).
As it became clear in the Fall of 2024 that no indoor shelter would be made available, the Creston Valley Den Society pivoted to support the unhoused and marginally housed wherever they were at. We accessed grants and local donations to supply survival equipment (tents, sleeping bags, clothing, heaters) and food. We began a daily sandwich brigade with the support of our growing cadre of volunteers.
In November, we helped the unhoused and marginally housed set up a small tent camp on the parking lot of the former Ambulance Building where they would be somewhat protected. We were grateful for the help of the Town of Creston to provide a porta-potty, garbage pick-up, and access to an outdoor electrical outlet. The Den supplied new equipment and winter gear as items were lost, damaged or collapsed in wind or under heavy snows.
During this time period, the Creston Valley Den Society continued to build its partnerships with both local and regional service providers, agencies, and the community. Thanks to generous local donations and successful grant applications, we were able to rent space at Trinity United Church for a two hour Daily Drop In program beginning in December, 2024. In January we hired a 25 hour per week paid Outreach Worker who, along with our dedicated Board members, helps prep food, run the kitchen and provide supports to clients as they arrive. Our Drop In program is also supported by thousands of volunteer hours. We provide a hot lunch, camping gear, clothing, harm reduction supplies and information, access to propane, showers and laundry, and serve as a point of contact for support services and referrals.
We welcome Creston’s unhoused and marginally housed into this friendly, supportive, non-judgemental and respectful space.