Extreme cold increases demand for Calgary homeless services

Support services for Calgary's homeless population are being stretched as plunging temperatures in the city increase demand on shelters and outreach programs.

The temperature dipped to 29 C in Calgary early Friday morning, and dropped as low as 34 in southern Alberta, and Environment Canada issued warnings of wind chills that could near40.

• Bundle up as southeastern Alberta hit with extreme cold warnings

The Mustard Seed has started opening their shelter doors earlier in the day due to the cold,offering a lunchtime meal when they would otherwise be closed.

"People that would otherwise stay outside just come in because there's no other choice," said Diana Camelo, communications specialist with the Mustard Seed in Calgary. "That also means that our staff are also working harder to ensure that everyone is safe."

Camelo estimates they've served up to 150 additional lunches daily during the cold weather.

"When it's so many people in close quarters things can get really uncomfortable," explained Camelo. "So [staff] will do things like games and movies ... to keep everyone entertained and safe inside."

Helping people living in camps around Calgary ismore important in cold weather for staff at Alpha House, working on the encampment team with theDowntown Outreach Addictions Program.

"The priority changes, first and foremost to be more about safety than anything else," said outreach workerKevinFuglewicz.

The encampment team reaches out to people living in camps around the city. While they collaboratewith housing service providers in Calgary, during a cold snap they prioritize checking camps and those who live in them to make sure they are still okay as the mercury plunges.

"When it's like this, and the snow is this deep and [a] camp could collapse ...then we're worried about making sure that he's okay, he's warm, he's fed and that the basic needs are met," said Fuglewicz.

There is also concern that drug use specifically meth increases among those living in camps when extreme cold hits.

"It ... keeps you awake," explainedFuglewicz. "Instead of sleeping, it's 'I'm going to stay awake and I'm warm and I'm moving.'"

"They get into a state where you can't reason with someone as much and it's a lot harder to actually have those conversations when we go to engage with them at their camps." addedFuglewicz.

Frostbite, numbness

Healthfears add to safety concerns for those living in camps.

"We're seeing a lot more people coming in with frostbite or complaints of numbness and limbs. It's a pretty epidemic thing happening right now," said Dean Meek,outreach team lead at Alpha House.

Alpha House says if you thinkyou've seen someone at a camp who needs help, call theirEncampment Team at 403-805-7388. As an alternative, ifyou spot someone outside who might need help andthe situation doesn't appear to be life-threatening, you cancall 311. If the situation appears to be an emergency or dangerous,call 911.

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