There are just over three weeks to go for the Mustard Seed New Life Community’s winter mat program.

Funded by BC Housing, they’ve got space for 30 people, and they’ve been pretty much at capacity given the recent cold snap.

Executive Director Diane Down says they are looking beyond that March 31 end date.

“With the coordinated access that we have going on with the city and mental health and BC Housing, these folks just won’t be turned back out to the streets,” Down said.

“They have access to transitional housing after our program is completed.”

The province is expected to open two new affordable housing projects this year – one at 259 West Victoria St downtown and the other at 317 Tranquille Road on the North Shore – after they were delayed last year.

“I don’t know what we’ll be doing around offering mats, that will be a conversation that we have with BC Housing and really so much is dependant on the weather,” Down added.

“Out of the Cold is also another shelter in town and their program also wraps up March 31. With Sparrow housing opening there will be some other transitional housing for folks to move into.”

Down adds it was a slow December and January at many shelters due to the weather, but since then they’ve served between 45 and 55 people every night between the mat program and the dayroom.