Cold weather strategy offers warm shelter in Saskatoon

Most people in Saskatoon have a warm place to spend the night, but not everyone is so fortunate.

Those who don’t have a warm place to stay can utilize a number of locations around the city to warm up thanks to the city’s cold weather strategy, managed by Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership.

Executive Director Shaun Dyck said the program has been growing since 2012, and now includes 11 organizations offering shelter from the frigid cold.

“It’s been really great to see the community get behind this,” Dyck said. “It’s so important that we keep our eyes out and keep our doors open to help people in need.”

Dyck said the cold weather strategy coordinates with Environment Canada and local emergency measures organizations to ensure their members keep a sharp lookout for anyone who may be at risk of freezing.

There are posters up advertising the warm up shelters, he said, and the strategy also receives help from community support officers and local emergency services.

City buses are free tonight for New Year’s Eve, which Dyck said allows anyone in need to easily secure a free ride to one of the city’s two 24-hour shelters.

Both the Lighthouse on Second Avenue South and the Salvation Army foyer on Avenue C will be open all night long, he noted.

Dyck encouraged anyone who sees a person at risk to let them know about the warm up locations.

If you do not want to approach them directly, he said the best thing to do is notify community support officers or the city police service.

In addition to the 24/7 shelter offered by the Lighthouse and Salvation Army, the locations offering safe spaces to warm up are: the Friendship Inn, all branches of the Saskatoon Public Library, the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre, the Saskatoon (Westside) Community Clinic, Switch Clinic, The Bridge Fellowship Centre, Egadz (youth only), CUMFI, and AIDS Saskatoon. Hours vary by location.

Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning for the @cityofsaskatoon. The Saskatoon Fire Department reminds all of the safe warm-up locations listed below that have been made available by community partners from around the city. Stay warm, Saskatoon! #yxe pic.twitter.com/TSwymZkZpq

— Saskatoon Fire Department (@SaskatoonFire) December 31, 2018