Extreme heat poses threat to Saskatoon's homeless population

A heat warning has been issued for Saskatoon in light of Tuesday's temperature getting above 30 C.

As homeless people in the city find themselves at risk from the extreme heat, the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) is workingin partnership with several locations in the city to provide people seeking relief with shelter and water.

Some of the locations includeWestside Community Clinic, Cumfi, Paved Arts, EGADZ, the Friendship Inn, Prairie Harm Reduction, the Salvation Army and the Lighthouse Supported Living.

SHIP manages Saskatoon's Heat Response, which is designed to "work with existing services to ensure situational awareness and promote co-ordinated effort, so everyone has access to cooling areas during Saskatoon's extreme hot temperatures from May 1to Sept. 1."

It works in conjunction with Saskatoon's Cold Weather Strategy, which has a similar goal of providing shelter to people during extremely cold temperatures.

Andra Ledding, communications manager with SHIP, said she is proud of the initiative, but wants to see the list of partners grow.

"It's such a simple thing to offer some shade, or offer some water," she said.

Ledding saidit's very disheartening to see so many people being left to deal with the conditions.

"It reaches out at my heart, whether they're young people or old people, they're lying down in the shade or trying to get some rest, trying to get some hydration and they literally have no place to go."