Emergency shelter opens in former Brick

Acontroversial emergency shelter in Calgary's northeast has opened its doors to the city's homeless.

Carrying their belongings in gym bags and backpacks, about 100 people filed into the sparse open space lined with black mats on Wednesday night.

The shelter is being operated by the Mustard Seed, a non-profit Christian humanitarian organization,inthe former Brick furniture store on Centre Street and 16th Avenue North.

During hearings earlier this winter, neighbours told city officials they worried that living near a shelter wouldn't be safe.

"We've done a lot to ensurethat the community's concerns about safety are addressed," saidFloyd Perras, whoruns the Mustard Seed.

People are bused to and from the facility. Shelter workers scantheir pictureIDs downtown and then again when they arrive at the building.

Cameras are also set up inside and out to ensure everyone who is supposed to be inside stays there,Perras said.

Minutes after they arrive,a hot meal is served up, a real luxury for those who have been living on the street.There are alsoshowers and televisions.

Jeremy Bemis, whohas been homeless since he moved to Calgary, called the meal of corn beef, potatoes and vegetables "awesome."

"Sometimes the shelters are so full, I'd walk around all night, wake up in a parking lot," he said. "It was rough."

The shelteris big enough to house 300 people. Wednesday night, the overnight low was just2 C. Organizers expect the mats will befull once thetemperatures drop againlater this winter.

The shelter will be open until the end of March, when the building will be torn down to make way for the widening of 16th Avenue North.