The City of Edmonton activated its extreme weather response on Monday with temperatures set to drop as a warmer stretch of winter is set to end.
The Bissell Centre is an organization that works with vulnerable Edmontonians experiencing poverty. Bissell Centre spokesperson Chris Schieman told Global News on Monday that the organization is planning to increase “safety walks” in the city’s core this week.
Teams will hand out supplies, help keep people warm and point them in the direction of where they can find shelter to get away from the cold.
“For folks experiencing houselessness, these kinds of extreme cold conditions — they’re a real threat,” he said. “The threat of amputation is very real, the threat of death is very real for them.
“(It’s) an incredibly challenging time.”
As of late Monday morning, the cold had yet to set in and one houseless person downtown told Global News the weather, at that point, was “not that big of a deal.”
“No one is freezing, no one has red cheeks,” said Xiiray Dorre, who is staying at the Hope Mission shelter.
He said during the last cold snap, he was really freezing, and his clothes got wet, but he was able to use the shelter and the Bissell Centre for warmth and food.
“All you need is a full belly and warm clothes” to protect yourself from seriously cold temperatures – something you just can’t help as a homeless person, he said.
Global News meteorologist Jesse Beyer said the city could face highs this week at or below -20, with overnight lows close to -30. The average high for this time of year is -2, he added.
Edmonton has had a few cold stretches this winter with highs well below average. This week will see some of the coldest temperatures since the cold snap that started mid-December and stretched over the holidays.
The extreme weather response goes into effect when temperatures reach below -20, as they are expected to this week. There also needs to be wind chill for at least three consecutive nights, and shelter use rates over 90 per cent, according to the city’s website.
The response will be in effect until Sunday, Feb. 26.
Schieman said the Bissell Centre will be increasing its capacity to 100 during the cold stretch and will set up bins outside containing gloves and toques for people who need them.
“For anybody in the encampments or anybody else we see that may be struggling, it’s a little something that helps them get through,” he said, adding that the situation is a reminder of the importance of taking action to address poverty and homelessness in the city.
–With files from Kendra Slugoski, Global News
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