Extreme cold warning prompts emergency shelter expansion in Hamilton

Environment Canada has issued a cold warning for our entire area with a possible wind chill of – 33 C.

This is prompting several municipalities to issue their own extreme cold alerts with a focus on helping the most vulnerable.

New shelter beds and warming centres are being opened up here in Hamilton during this extreme cold weather so that unhoused people aren’t left out on the street. But there are fears that some people may not make it through the night.

With high winds and bitterly cold temperatures hitting Southern Ontario, people who rely on shelters say it’s tough enough when the shelters close during the day and they’re waiting outside to get back in.

“It takes a toll on everybody mentally, physically, emotionally. It kills a lot of people out here because we’re not allowed what we need to have out here and that’s a form of shelter, a stable spot where we can be for the winter,” said one unhoused woman.

But at night the cold really sets in.

“The primary fear in a situation like this is that potentially this weather can be lethal for people who don’t have adequate shelter. And beyond that, certainly can have very serious health impacts; frostbite, exposure,” said Katherine Kalinowski, chief operating officer at Good Shepherd Centres.

And the city and other organizations are opening up warming centres and shelter beds.

“In addition to our usual operations, we secured a number of new beds. We have additional beds for women at Mary’s Place, we have additional drop-in spaces for women at the YWCA at Carol Anne’s Place, there’s five additional spots there. We also have 20 additional beds for men at Good Shepherd Cathedral,” said Michelle Baird, Hamilton Housing Services director.

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They say there are about 300 people who live on the streets in the city, with shelters already full.

“The shelter system in Hamilton, even with the addition of 192 beds in the last year, is operating at capacity or over capacity virtually every night of the year,” said Kalinowski.

They’re worried about people who may not get the message tonight that shelter is available.

“We have a housing focused street outreach team and they’ll work throughout the weekend, Saturday and Sunday, and they’ll be working to try to get people into these spaces,” said Baird.

And they’re asking the public to help.

“Really encourage people to be on the lookout in their neighbourhood, around them, someone who looks like they’re struggling or needs some help, to reach out, to seek help or inquire if they need help or call local services or the police,” said Kalinowski.

As for the people CHCH News spoke to outside today, they say they’ll have a place tonight.

“I’m in the shelter tonight when they open at 6 p.m. But again, that’s a daily shelter. We have to do this every day in order to ensure we get a bed.”

Hamilton’s hospitals are also concerned about people who are out on the street on nights like this.

Hamilton Health Sciences says they’re committed to ensuring that anyone who goes to emergency gets the help they need. And they point out that they run a burn unit that cares for people who have frostbite described as a cold burn.

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