2nd homeless outreach vehicle gets ready to roll in Winnipeg

A second Winnipeg shelter is sending staff out in a vehicle in an effort to help people living on the streets in the cold.

The Salvation Army announced Monday it has acquired an old ambulance it plans to use to rescue homeless people caught outside in extreme weather.

"We've seen every winter that this is a need," said Mark Stewart, residentialco-ordinatorwith the Sally Ann. "We're just very excited to be able to have the opportunity to work with the community this way."

The Main Street Project launched its ownoutreach van program last week. Staff with the shelterstarted patrolling city streets ahead of schedule after a woman died outside during frigid overnight temperatures.

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The Salvation Army's Thunder Bay chapter donated the converted ambulance to the Winnipeg shelter, as it wasn't being used at the time.The vehicleseats six people and was driven to Winnipeg over the weekend.

"What we have to offer is a vehicle more made for disaster services," Stewartsaid.

The Salvation Army isn't out to"compete" with the Main Street Project van, Stewart said.

"If the Main Street Project or any other organization would like to partner with us, we're more than willing to do that, but we are totally self-sufficient and able to carry this out on our own as well," Stewart said.

Funding for the Main Street Project van was cut about six years ago. Organizers with the shelter started the van patrolsahead of schedule last week amid blistering winter conditions. The shelter is currently still trying to secure the estimated $150,000 infunding needed to keep the program in operation for its first year back on the road.

Plans for the Salvation Army vehiclehave been in the works for some time, Stewart said, and the timing is great considering the Main Street Project is encountering challenges finding money to staff its van.

With the milder weather in the forecast this week, Stewart said it will give the shelter time todo a few dry runsbefore the vehicle is fully up and running next week.

Stewart said the hope is that the vehiclecan be used to keep homeless people warm during the depths of winter and cool in the summer, as well.

"We'll try to look at a long-term strategy for doing this instead of just every year trying to find the finances to do it," Stewart added.