Warming centers in Saskatchewan are bracing for strong demand as temperatures across the province begin to drop, leaving the most vulnerable in need of a reprieve from the cold.
Temperatures dipped below -20C in some areas on Monday and those temperatures are forecast to drop further on Tuesday evening – with wind chills expected to feel as low as -40.
Environment Canada warns there is a risk of frostbite in such low temperatures.
Last week, Saskatoon released this year's Point in Time (PiT) data, which measures the number of those experiencing homelessness on a single day. The City of Saskatoon is reporting a record 1,931 homeless people this year, continuing an upward trend in homelessness in the city.
While Regina has not released PiT numbers for this year, the capital has also seen an upward trend in homelessness over the past decade.
There are several groups in both Saskatoon and Regina that offer warming spaces when the bitter cold sets in—some of which are seeing a change in their demand.
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“I've been doing this job for 32 years and I've never seen it this bad,” said Don Meikle, executive director of the EGADZ Youth Center.
Meikle says the need to help more people means his organization has to work longer hours and employ more people than ever before.
“It's very hard to plan for extreme cold because our weather changes so quickly and constantly. But we used to be in the van three days a week, and now we're in the van seven days a week,” he said.
The City of Saskatoon plans to open a new weatherization center on Avenue C later this month, the city's planning and development department said in a statement to Global News.
The building, which formerly housed a restaurant, is currently undergoing interior renovations such as adding restrooms, upgrading lighting and updating “several other major building amenities,” they said, adding that some exterior features “relatively minor in nature” will also be renovated in the next few weeks.
The maximum capacity of the new warming center is 150 people, according to the city.
Meanwhile, after interior and exterior renovations were completed, a temporary warming center with seating for 100 people opened in early November on 23rd Street. This center is operated 24 hours a day by the Saskatoon Tribal Council.
The temporary space is located on the former Saskatoon Transportation Company bus terminal and is used by an average of 80 women daily, according to city officials.
Other community groups, such as Church in Hood, are also continuing their efforts to help on the streets.
The organization uses a retrofitted school bus as a warming site, serving those who need warmth or a hot meal from 9 pm until the early morning.
“When you get on the bus, you know you're welcome. You get on, we offer you a bowl of soup, some tea, water, winter clothes, jackets, hats, a bunch of stuff,” said Ralph Nicotine, founder of Church in the Hood Ministries.
A weathered red school bus will hit the streets of Saskatoon starting next week after undergoing minor repairs.
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