A woman wheels her cart along West Hastings Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jae C. Hong/AP)

The B.C. government says it won't be funding as many emergency shelters in downtown Vancouver this winter because more homeless people are finding permanent housing in year-round shelters.

Housing Minister Rich Coleman announced Tuesday the province will provide funding for 340 extra beds in the city's HEAT program during the winter months, and 300 more beds at the Extreme Weather Response shelters during cold snaps.

"The opening of 309 new supportive apartments since April this year has reduced the need for the 160 temporary Winter Response spaces that we have funded in past years," said Coleman in a statement issued on Tuesday.

According to officials with the Ministry of Housing, Vancouver's Extreme Weather Response shelters were only half full last year.

The announcement comes after Vancouver city Coun. Kerry Jang called out the province last week, saying it was not holding up its end of the bargain around cold weather emergency homeless shelters.

Jang says it's unfortunate that every year the city has to practically beg the province to continue the funding.

But Coleman says there is good communication between his office and Vancouver City Hall and Jang is the only councillor complaining.

2 more permanent shelters opened

On Tuesday the province and the city also opened two new facilities on Seymour and Station streets that will provide 185 units of permanent supportive housing. Residents also get access to supports to help overcome addictions or cope with disabilities.

The province already provides 638 year-round beds and has committed $300 million dollars in funding to eventually fund a total of 1,500 permanent beds at 14 new facilities in Vancouver.

Bruce Curtiss, the senior chaplain at the Union Gospel Mission on East Hastings, says this type of supportive housing is critical in solving homelessness.

"There's so many systemic issues with many of the people I work with. There's bipolar [disorder], dual-diagnosis, mental illness, addiction issues, the fact that most of them ... don't know how to take care of themselves hygienically or cook for themselves," he said.

"When you start reminding people that they matter and you encourage them that they can succeed, that's when they're going to take those steps forward."

Downtown Eastside resident Trish Bird says the new housing remains in high demand.

"Most of the people I that I know are looking for housing right now. They're either staying in a shelter or sleeping outside," said Bird.