The Vancouver HEAT shelter at Main and Terminal houses more than 100 people per night, but is set to close on April 20. The City owns the building but says the province (BC Housing) must pay for running the facility. Other HEAT shelters are also scheduled to close. A group of people staying at the shelter are holding a press conference on Monday, April 12 at 9am at 201 Central (southeast of Main and Terminal) to announce their plan of action for April 20. (see below) Homeless and Advocates Respond to Impending Shelter Closures Media Advisory – April 11, 2010 On Monday morning, homeless residents of the Northern Street shelter and housing advocates will announce a coordinated response to the upcoming closure of the HEAT shelters. A total of seven HEAT shelters, which housed more than 600 homeless individuals during the Olympics, are scheduled to begin closing on April 20, with the last shelter to close on April 31. What: Coordinated response to shelter closures When: 9am, Monday April 12, 2010 Where: Northern Street Shelter, 240 Northern Street, Vancouver (entrance at 201 Central) Who: Shelter residents and representatives from Citywide Housing Coalition, Downtown Neighbourhood Council, Carnegie Community Action Project, and Pivot Legal Society According to homeless count statistics released earlier this week, the number of homeless in Vancouver has increased 12% from 2008, from 1576 to 1762. Until now, most homeless people have been able to find beds; the closure of the HEAT shelters will increase Vancouver's street homeless population from approximately 400 to more than 1000.