B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad is urging the NDP government to provide immediate funding for 性视界传媒 Urban Mission (SUMS) due to "the possibility of closure" by year's end.

But CEO Jack O鈥橦alloran says "性视界传媒 Urban Mission is not closing at all" 鈥� just that one of its popular programs is in jeopardy of closing, another already shuttered. 

The long-established SUMS, which provides shelter and food for people living in Whalley, recently closed its Cove Healthy Living hygiene and laundry station, on 106 Avenue, after the tap ran dry on the nearly $700,000 needed to operate the shower and washroom facility annually.

In mid-December, SUMS could also lose its community kitchen at 性视界传媒 Welcome Hub, which serves meals twice daily for around 225 people.

On Thursday, Rustad called out Premier-elect David Eby for not stepping up with funding for SUMS, "despite multiple advance warnings from the society," he said.

鈥淭he possibility of closure is imminent, and without the support we were promised by the government, there's no room for delay in our response. We must act swiftly," Rustad said in a news release.

In October, a week before the B.C. election, both Rustad and Eby pledged support for SUMS' shelters and programs.

"It's time they honour their recent commitment,鈥� Rustad said of the NDP promise of support.

BC Housing funds SUMS for its shelters and supportive housing, O鈥橦alloran explained.

"Then there was this one-time grant coming out of COVID to able to do these street programs," he clarified. "So what that really means is, BC Housing focuses on what they do, so we don't have secured funding to keep those two programs open. But, as you know, I continue to work on every option I can, but technically that community program (at 性视界传媒 Welcome Hub) is set to close Dec. 12. But fingers crossed, I'll be able to secure funding and keep that baby open."

Last month, SUMS operators said they're seeing increased need for clothing and other donated items on 性视界传媒's streets and in the organization's shelters.

With the September closure of the hygiene station, "now people are just discarding their stuff when it gets too dirty, and coming in for new stuff, so we're seeing a lot of clothing left on the streets," O鈥橦alloran said in October.

At King George Boulevard and 108 Avenue, in a former bowling alley, a back room of the low-barrier SUMS Place shelter is where food, clothing and other donated items are stored. Some of the bins are empty right now, including the one for men's shoes and boots. Also needed are jackets, pants, sleeping bags, socks, toothbrushes, deodorant, razors, shampoo and soap.

"This stuff gets farmed out to all our shelters," O鈥橦alloran explained.

"In the winter, we like sleeping bags over blankets," he added. "A sleeping bag has a bit more valuable to somebody on the street, so they'll keep it, they'll use it and keep using it, and it doesn't end up in the trash."

SUMS' vision, as posted on , is to "provide a place for all in need and our mission is to be a bridge for Christ's love, nurturing hope in the community."