Extreme cold creates dangerous scene for homeless

By GILLIAN SLADE on January 17, 2020.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade

In this week of freezing weather, nearly 25 people have been staying at the homeless shelter while others have spent nights outside.

Medicine Hat Community Housing Society says there were 22 people in the Salvation Army Centre of Hope overnight shelter last Saturday. There were 24 on Sunday and 25 on Monday.

“Important to note that although the number appears to rise slightly, these are new people to the shelter system in Medicine Hat,” said Jaime Rogers, manager of the homeless and housing development department.

This month six people used a shelter for the first time ever, said Rogers.

The Centre of Hope shelter has 30 beds. All 30 beds are funded through the provincial government.

Sandi Hart, of Harts Connect, began an initiative last winter that sees volunteers distribute emergency care packages at night to people who are homeless but not using the shelter. She says this week they have handed out 20 packs. Four people told volunteers they were experiencing frostbite.

Compared with the number of people living on the street last winter, this year the number is down slightly, said Hart.

The areas where people have been found sheltering outside is a little different this winter compared to last, said Hart, who suspects there may be more living outside that Harts Connect has not been able to locate yet.

The emergency packs include hand and feet warmers, an emergency blanket, a chocolate bar, a warm toque and a $5 coffee shop gift card.

This week Environment Canada has continually issued an “extreme cold” warning along with an alert to the risk of frostbite.

Rogers does not believe the weather has made a big difference to the numbers seen in the overnight shelter.

“When we look deeper into the reasons why they are utilizing shelter, the weather does not appear to factor in. This does not mean that people will not access other services in community to connect and stay warm during this current cold spell,” said Rogers.

In mid-December Roger talked about the number of people experiencing homelessness being significantly higher than last December. She said the trend is expected to continue.

“As things are shifting in our economy and our landscape I think we are seeing just the tip of the iceberg,” said Rogers at that time. “We are anticipating that we are going to have an inflow of people that are experiencing homelessness for the first time in our community … It’s a little different to what Medicine Hat has historically experienced.”

There has been significant job loss in the region and it usually takes a year or two for it to trickle down to this level, said Rogers.

Harts Connect depends on donations from the community to put the care packs together. Each one costs about $16. Anyone wishing to make a donation for the packs should call River Valley Community Church 403-504-0123 and mention it is for the “cold fund.”

Hart says in general there appears to be a temporary shortage of warm gloves in town. People in the church are busy knitting gloves, and scarves and would be grateful for donations of kitting yarn or wool.

You can reach Hart at 403-977-4062

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