During the extreme cold experienced on the island at the beginning of the month, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing says a total of four hotel rooms were utilized for emergency shelter.

NL Housing says with extreme weather alerts issued on February 2 and 3, they worked with community partners to prepare for an increase in the number of calls to the emergency shelter line.

On February 3, they secured nine additional hotel rooms which required advance booking. They say four of the rooms were occupied, and the others were secured for people by shelter line staff, but “ultimately accommodation plans changed.”

NLHC states that any vacant rooms were released Monday morning when the storm was over.

Outside of the recent storm response, they say emergency shelter rooms are booked only as required on a nightly basis.