In 1997, a coalition of downtown outreach workers in Victoria, alarmed by sighting youth sleeping in the doorways of local community centers, decided to open a lifeline. They asked churches, the YMCA, and the Boys & Girls Club to help by opening their doors at night. From that spark, Out of the Rain Youth Shelter was born. Starting in the winter of 1998 as a seasonal shelter, its purpose was clear: give vulnerable youth a warm, safe place to sleep during the harshest months. The shelter has since operated every winter without fail.
Nurturing, Nonstop Commitment from Volunteers
- Karyn Lehmann, with St. John of the Divine Anglican Church, was involved since inception and recalls, “I thought one of those kids could be my child, I would want someone looking out for them.” From coordinating meals and schedules to managing logistics, Karyn’s dedication has been unwavering.
- Gerry Melville joined in 2008 when Karyn took a vacation and started supporting the initiative with Pauline. Over 17 years, Gerry helped serve coffee and hot chocolate and shared the hands-on cooking. Motivated by a privileged upbringing filled with care, Gerry explains, “if you see somebody who needs something and you have it, you should try to help them.”
- Pauline Majcher, with over 17 years of involvement, continues today by assembling Christmas stockings stuffed with everything from hoodies to phone adapters and treats, small gestures that mean the world to the young recipients.
Together, the trio reflects: serving meals brought them face-to-face with the youth and quickly erased fear and otherness. As Karyn shared, “It made us not afraid of kids, of people on the street… unless you have that personal contact, that doesn’t happen.”
Growth, Relief, and the Vital Role of Beacon Community Services
As operational demands grew, the founding volunteers found themselves stretched thin. Enter Beacon Community Services. Beacon took over staffing, and administration, ensuring the shelter’s sustainability. “It couldn’t be done without them,” Karyn says.
The shelter continues to operate at 1450 Elford Street, offering a welcoming space, meals, and a sense of community from 8:00pm to 7:30am during the colder months. Recently expanded to year-round service thanks to BC Housing funding, it now provides 12-hour shelter, hot meals, laundry facilities, and more. Uniquely, the shelter is also pet-friendly, an essential feature, as many shelters do not allow animals, creating a critical barrier for some individuals.
Community Elegance in Action
Over the years, St. John the Divine Anglican Church congregation members have stepped up with supplies, money, and encouragement. Gerry proudly recalls a fundraiser that secured 932 pairs of socks, while others donated hoodies, sweatpants, and essential items on demand.
These volunteers and supporters see beyond labels. “They’re not the other, they’re us,” Karyn stated. And the youth express gratitude in return: “Somebody always thanked us… once again, that just adds the humanness,” Pauline shares. Gerry adds “I think maybe we were sort of mother figures.”
Hope, Reflection & a Call to Care
Looking back on humble beginnings in an unheated basement, Karyn is moved by how far the shelter has come. Now supported by Beacon’s programs like Mirrors Supportive Housing and Homelessness Prevention Programs, youth can move from shelter to stability with dignity and hope.
To the broader community, they say: compassion costs little and changes everything. “Most of us can cook something… or contribute a little money… we all need each other to do this.”
Why This Story Matters
This isn’t just a history lesson, it’s a living testament to the power of community, empathy, and steadfast service. Volunteers like Karyn, Gerry, and Pauline remind us: behind every shelter bed is a face, a story, a human being deserving of care. With Beacon’s leadership and continued community support, Out of the Rain Youth Shelter remains not just a program, but a promise.
By donating today, you’re helping Light the Way forward for a young person in crisis. Your support provides food, shelter, safety, and hope, the things every youth deserves, but not all receive.
Join us in Lighting the Way. Be the reason someone finds their path.