We’re in for another extremely cold night. The wind chill could hit minus-40. That sets in motion an operation by the Living Space homeless shelter to remind daytime guests to come back for the night.
Director of operations Robin Maj says outreach workers also try to meet clients on the street, encouraging them above all to use the shelter or other services.
“We advise them it’s going to be cold,” she explains, “do they need anything, can we supply them with any resources that they might need to get them through these challenging weather phases?”
For people who would rather not go to the shelter, the workers can supply mitts, scarves, hats and blankets.
Living Space’s new larger location on Spruce St. S. allows it to open more daytime drop-in spaces as the thermometer plummets.
“This building also does offer up more space for sleeping,” notes Maj. “So we’re able to open up overflow opportunities and put down more beds, if that is the case with people presenting.”
On a normal night at Living Space, sleeping capacity is 30 people. On extremely cold nights, it climbs to 40 or more.
See Environment Canada’s extreme cold warning here.