Watch above: Saskatchewan winters are typically brutally cold and that’s why a local shelter is offering warmth. Meaghan Craig takes an inside look at the Salvation Army’s ‘warm room’ and finds out what the organization hopes to accomplish.
SASKATOON – An organization in Saskatoon is planning ahead before old man winter strikes again. Within the next week-and-a-half, the Salvation Army is hoping to launch the “warm room,” a program that will help those in need feel safe and comfortable.
It will also ensure that any cold snaps this winter don’t end in further tragedy. On Nov. 15, the body of a 42-year-old homeless man was found dead in an abandoned semi in the city.
In 2012, there were an estimated 379 homeless people in Saskatoon; 76 of those were sleeping on the streets.
MORE: Cold temperatures create dangerous situations for homeless
“We just really want, feel that it’s important that they know that there’s some place to go and some place that’s going to be welcoming and they can come stay from six to eleven, they can for a half hour whatever they feel they want to do, the door will be open,” said Salvation Army Executive Director Malba Holliday.
Rolling out the welcome mat on Dec. 22, the program is scheduled to run seven nights a week from 6 to 11 p.m. until mid-April. Officials say not a single soul will be turned away.
“No restrictions, we really want people to know the Salvation Army’s here to help them.”
Light snacks and hot drinks will be served in the warm room and card games or movies can be played for children. Winter clothing will be given out to anyone requiring it as well as homemade quilts.
The staff says it hopes the light-hearted interactions will help break the ice among those brought there by providing a bit of warmth.
“If they want to stay in the shelter then they can be comfortable coming in to meet us and to see what the shelter is like, then that way it will maybe take some of the stigma away and help them to feel safe with us,” said Holliday.
The Salvation Army provides shelter to only men but accommodations will be arranged for women and children in need.
“We don’t judge people, my goodness, we all need assistance in our lives and the one thing that we want to do is make sure they know that this is given freely and it’s given certainly from the heart. We’re very gracious, we’re very glad that we’re able to do this for our community, we think it’s an important service.”
Anyone wanting to donate homemade quilts, jackets or other winter clothing to the warm room can do so by dropping them off at The Salvation Army community centre at 339 Avenue C South.
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