Concern grows for Hamilton’s vulnerable homeless population as cold continues

This week’s frigid weather is challenging for those who work outside in it, but the cold can be dangerous for those who are forced to sleep in it.

After being homeless for over a year, J.P. Parent now has a place to call home.

“Since October, thanks to mission services, I was able to get a place like this at Indwell,” said Parent. “It’s been a dream of having your own place.”

Last year Parent was moving from encampment to encampment, and he says landing in this Indwell building on Strathearne Avenue has been a lifesaver.

“It’s a dream — I can go shopping,” said Parent. “The first week I had the keys around my neck because I haven’t had keys in my hand. It’s like waking up from a coma and realizing that you have your life back.”

Parent says he’s thankful that he doesn’t have to sleep outside in the cold anymore, because he said if he had to this week, he doesn’t know if he’d be able to make it.

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“Think of your worst nightmare times a hundred,” said Parent. “For the people that are out there this year — me and my friend talked about it last Thursday, there’s no way we would have made it. I feel sorry for anyone who is out there right now.”

Hamilton firefighters are called to homeless encampments regularly in this cold weather.

“If there are medical emergencies — whether it’s drug overdoses, potentially people VSA (vital signs absent), shortness of breath, things of that nature that are life threatening — we are responding with paramedics anywhere in the city,” said Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe.

They’re also battling fires, and this extreme cold makes their jobs even more challenging.

“We bring in other crews to relieve them, they’ll end up going back to their quarters,” said Cunliffe. “The other thing we do is, if it’s going to be a bit of a prolonged incident we bring ‘Box 43’ in. Box 43 is our rehab unit, our canteen unit. And they’ll come to the scene and they will provide hot drinks whether it is coffee or hot chocolate – they’ll make hot soup – things that firefighters can use to warm up and replenish.”

As for Parent, he doesn’t miss trying to survive the night in a tent and likes having something to look forward to.

“Pizza for lunch, and maybe watching the Superbowl,” said Parent. “I want to get back into the workforce, where I was before, and get my life back — and maybe if I could, maybe see what I can do next year reducing the number of people who are dying and what situations could be looked at to help the people of Hamilton.”

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