An extreme cold warning is in effect in the northeast. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW Staff)

By Angie Rolheiser

extreme cold warning

Limited options for homeless in the northeast with lack of warm weather shelters

Jan 25, 2021 | 3:55 PM

As temperatures have dipped into the extreme cold category, those that are homeless are left with limited options in Melfort and area.

Melfort Salvation Army Captain Rick Robins said there are no cold weather shelters in the northeast.

The army is part of the cold weather strategy with the shelters in the nearby, larger centres.

“Basically we put people up for two days kind of thing and if we can’t find anything within those two days, then I transport to a shelter in Prince Albert or Saskatoon,” Robins said. “We had a homeless guy just last week that we fed and then put up for two nights and then I took to Saskatoon to a place with the Salvation Army there”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, some organizations were able to open up and put cots out for a few nights but since that is not possible, a homeless person might be put up in a hotel room until they can be transported to a nearby hostel.

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Oftentimes, the hostel they are transported to will help them line up living arrangements elsewhere or back to where they were transported from.

“Sometimes they will be able to find a place back here and then come back and will have a place to live but they won’t be back until they actually have a place to live,” Robins said. “Most times they just find arrangements wherever they are and don’t often come back.”

For the most part, there aren’t too many people without homes or shelter in the area over the winter months that Robins can tell because they tend to find some place to stay before it gets too cold. In the summertime, it is a little bit of a different story.

“When the weather is nice, they sleep in tents, at parks, or in the bush,” Robins said.

When a need arises, the Salvation Army does what they can to help according to Robins.

“As our mission says, to be a transforming influence in the community we serve so if there is a need and we can help, we will do that in the best way that we can,” Robins said.

Anyone that is experiencing homelessness is encouraged to find help rather than staying in a potentially dangerous situation such as extreme cold conditions.

Ready-made meals are still available at the Salvation Army in Melfort. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has also made changes to serving food, changes had to be made to the army’s offering but staff make every effort to ensure meals are still on hand for those in need.

“We try to be a light in the community and help where we can regardless of race, colour, creed, it doesn’t matter,” Robins said. “We believe in helping our neighbours in anyway we can, to help people up and to help them in their journey to be the best that they can in their lives.”

Environment Canada has issued extreme cold warnings for the northeast, making frostbite a concern. Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin, especially with the wind chill that is expected to be in the – 40 C range over the next few days.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser