Regina warming shelters expect surge in use as temperatures drop

With temperatures dropping across Saskatchewan, warming shelters are preparing for higher demand, including Regina’s Carmichael Outreach. Wayne Mantyka reports.

Warming shelters across the province are preparing for higher demand as temperatures drop and those experiencing homelessness seek protection from the cold.

Carmichael Outreach in Regina expects a 50 per cent increase in the number of people visiting its facility, which has been keeping its doors open around the clock.

Residents in a tent community located next to the centre, which has been keeping its doors open around the clock, have been chopping wood to keep the fire burning as temperatures drop.

Travis Lumberjack, manager of the extended hours program at Carmichael Outreach, said the facility has seen a large number of people access their services.

“To date, it is going to be 8,205 individuals who do utilize our services throughout the night. On average, it equates to about, I would say 90 to 100 people,” he said.

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Outside Carmichael’s entrance on Wednesday, a woman handed out toques and scarves.

“It’s really astounding and heartbreaking that people out here have to just struggle. It’s freezing,” she said.

Others dropped off food to those huddled outside.

“Just leftovers so it’s just going to go in the garbage, so we thought we’d come and share the wealth,” Beata Klyne with Valley Girls Catering said.

Supports aren’t as readily available in other areas of the city.

Some Rae Street residents are petitioning city hall to have the lone male resident of a makeshift shelter relocated to proper housing. They say the wood that he is burning to stay warm poses a hazard to adjacent properties. Their spokesperson did not want to be identified.

“I don’t wish what he’s going through on anybody. I hope the city can help him find housing. Unfortunately, that’s between him and the city. They’ve got social services, and they’ve got programs to help these people,” the Rae Street resident said.

Places that provide shelter from the cold are expecting an influx of people as the temperatures drop into the minus 30s later this week. It’s a service that cold prove life saving for people who have nowhere else to go.