Cold weather a challenge for the homeless

Oct 29, 2019 | 3:16 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — With temperatures plunging to well below zero overnight, how are the less fortunate coping?

AWAC for instance was a popular destination last night for those seeking respite from the cold, considering temperatures dipped all the way down to minus 12 overnight.

“So, we always prepare ourselves every year for when the cold snap happens,” says Executive Director Connie Abe. “So, we always see an influx of people accessing our services when that happens. It takes a bit for them to want to come in doors but we are prepared.”

She says they also plan to build on their offerings during the colder months by providing more services to men as part of its Extreme Weather Outreach Program.

“This year we thought of expanding that service to include having men being able to access our drop-in during the day as well so it’s not just women. To give them the opportunity to come in and have a shower, get their laundry done, connect with our outreach.”

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And local soup kitchen, the St. Vincent De Paul Society, has also noticing a bump in traffic since the colder weather arrived.

“Well we find that more people are coming and more people are staying because some of the people we are dealing with are sleeping outside,” says President Bernie Goold.

“But 75 per cent of the other people are living in substandard housing if they’re not lucky enough to have subsidized housing. So, it means they want to get out but they can’t be out and about.”

by Greg Fry

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Cold weather a challenge for the homeless

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