Steady extreme cold weather in the Queen City means more people are trying to find shelter to keep themselves warm.
While some may think the city’s shelters are at full capacity when the thermometer drops quite a bit, places like Souls Harbour Rescue Mission have plenty to offer for people seeking help.
Emergency services manager Bob Fallon said their shelter holds 24 people. However he finds they had more people seeing them when the weather was milder.
“They can come to stay overnight. I think we had 16 or 18 with milder weather, but [Tuesday night] we are at ten,” said Fallon. “It’s on a night-to-night basis, so you never know.”
It can be the time of year when those who are suffering from homelessness, addictions or abuse need help the most.
For Fallon and his crew, they want people to know they still have lots of room if they are looking for a warm place to stay at night.
“We have some leeway when the cold weather strategy comes. The door is basically open if you have identification and you haven’t been banned from violence, drugs or issues like that.”
The shelter’s supper program sees lots of traffic on any given night, too. People are welcome to come in for a hot meal and they receive cold weather gear like socks, gloves and tuques for those who need it to brave the elements.
There were 225 people who arrived to Souls Harbour on Tuesday; Fallon said most were families and children.
“Regina has been really good for volunteering, giving clothing and food,” he said. “[Tuesday and Wednesday], we even received lots of mitts and jackets.”
Fallon said the shelter can use more gloves, mitts and tuques to hand out. Donations can be taken to the back door at their location on Angus Street.
