Surrey's homeless brace for nasty weekend weather

The last time a nasty storm tore through Surrey, Tommy Hallbergwasliving in a wooded area somewhere in Fleetwood, drenched and shivering under a thin sheet of plastic.

"I had rats running across my chest in the middle of the night," he said.

Hallberg, who was homeless for 18 years, was camping next to his friend Bill Silbsterwho was lucky enough to have a tent.

"The little piece of plastic he had, it had holes in it," Silbster said.

"All night, water would be dripping on his head."

Even with howling wind and heavy rain in the forecast, Hallberg and Silbster will have a warm and dry place to sleep this weekend.

Sources B.C. helped the pair find housing and for the last seven monthsthey have been living together in a home in Newton.

They say their hearts go out to everyone who isn't as lucky.

"It's tough out there," Hallberg said.

Homelessness march

To raise awareness and bring in donations for people on the street, Sources B.C. held its 11th Annual Homelessness March, Friday morning in Newton.

Dozens of people carried signs as they marched through the soggy weather.

Housing First case manager Susan Sellick hopes the event draws attention to the dire need for affordable housing in the city.

"We need the city to build housing that can be had for $375 because that's what these people are given for shelter," she said.

Sillick also pointed out how proud she was to see Hallberg and Silbster taking part in the event.

"It's better than a paycheque to see them doing so well," she smiled.

Emergency shelters

As the march was happening, Surrey Urban Mission executive director Mike Musgrove was preparing for what is sure to be a busy night.

His facility usually has 20 spaces for the homeless but because of the extreme weatherthere will be room for 40 people through the weekend.

"Sadly, we're still turning people away," he said.

"It's crazy to think that these people want to be inside and there's no place for them to go. It's tough."

Musgrove says there is a desperate need for donations of rain gear, winter clothes, ponchos and socks.

"We need stuff like clothes that keeppeople dry," he said.