Extreme cold impacting Hamilton's homeless shelters

When the extreme cold hits Hamilton, workers and volunteers at Mission Services prepare for a busy night.

Tuesdays wind chills of -17 C mean more people are using the shelter to escape the frigid weather.

When its this bitterly cold its as if the challenges in their life get put under a microscope, says Paddy Bowen, executive director of Mission Services.

There will be guys sleeping on mats in our dining room tonight.- Paddy Bowen, executive director, Mission Services

They tend to come in and just collapse in a way, she said.

The shelter sleeps 57 people, but on a cold night, Bowen estimates up to 70 men will come in overnight to sleep.

Were filled and then plus. There will be guys sleeping on mats in our dining room tonight, said Bowen.

The shelter does not turn anyone away during the extreme cold.

Ludwin V., who came to Hamilton from Vancouver five months ago, is a client of Mission Services. He said the shelter is essential on extremely cold days.

We definitely need a place like this. We dont have the money to find a place to stay and if it wasnt for their doors open Id have to be on the street in the cold, said Ludwin, Its a blessing.

Ludwin said volunteers are crucial for helping many in Hamilton who benefit from the shelter.

He is also asking the public to donate sweaters, hats, gloves and winter jackets to the shelter, which will help clients like him keep warm.

Many who use the shelter cannot afford to purchase warm clothes, he said.

When its this bitterly cold its as if the challenges in their life get put under a microscope- Paddy Bowen, executive director, Mission Services

Diana Quildon, kitchen manager of Mission Services said there are many caring people in Hamilton who help clients at the shelter during the cold.

She said Hamilton Police Services work with Mission Services regularly to bring people into the shelter on cold nights.

The police do an excellent job looking for people out on the streets and bringing them in, said Quildon who was serving soup and pizza in the dining hall on Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Hamilton public health officials are looking into setting up warming centers for people who need to escape the cold weather.

During a meeting, Public Health staff said they would examine the concept, which would be similar to the cooling centres the city operates during the summer.

The idea comes after threecold-related deaths of homeless residents in Toronto recently, that has left people and city staff concerned.

• Hamilton looks at setting up warming centres for residents

On January 5, one man was found unconscious at a bus stop wearing only jeans and a T-shirt. The other was found in an abandoned panel truck.

Another homeless man died at a Peter St. shelter while seeking respite from the cold on Jan. 8.

Bowen believes those deaths could be related to an issue of scale in Toronto.

There are more people who live on the margin in Toronto and theres tremendous stress on their social services, said Bowen.

Its important as having good roads for the well-being of Hamilton that these services are here. That we look after people who are ill and live on the margin. Nobody should cross the street and leave someone sitting on the cement that has nowhere to go. Thats not our city, she said.