Brandon homeless shelter expands in time for cold snap, increased need

The Safe and Warm shelter in Brandon has expanded just in time for an influx of clients due to a harsh December cold snap.

Samaritan House Ministries, which operates the shelterin the city's downtown core, doubled its capacity to 20 beds from 10 earlier this month, in an effort to make sure no one in the city was left without shelter as frigid winter temperatures set in.

"We really try in our community ... to leave no one behind," said Samaritan House executive director Thea Dennis. "There is nothing worse than hearing that one of our community members has perished."

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The shelter has been averaging nine to 14 clients per night since the cold weather set in, according to Dennis. Nearly 160 overnight stays have been recorded since it opened for the year in mid-November.

It offers people in the city's homeless community coffee, meals and a warm place to spend the night.

Dennis said the shelter's expansion had been in the works sincethe organization took over its operation two years ago. Renovations included a storage room that was turned into anew part of the shelter and the changes were recently given the green light by cityfire safety officials.

"People aren't squished in one tiny room," she said. "There's two rooms now, one side for men, one side for women."

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Before Samaritan House took over the shelter, the city's homeless were housed in various churches and other buildings through the winter months.

Police watching out for those in need

A recent survey found 146 people were considered homeless in Brandon, 28 of whom were unsheltered.

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Dennis said shelter staff don't go out to look for or check on Brandon's homeless people like Winnipeg's Main Street Projecthas been doing following the death of a woman in the cold last weekend.

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She said the Brandon Police Service has been keeping an eye out for people who might need help and either recommend they come to the shelter them or bring them in themselves.

Dennis said staff try as much as possible to build trust and rapport with clients so they feel safe. She said one man in particular showed up at the shelter two weeks ago looking for help, but wasn't ready to stay overnight. He is now staying in the shelter at night.

Dennis said a lack of affordable housing plays a big part in the homeless situation in Brandon. It's a problem that has been brought forward to the provincial government.

"I'm feeling very positive that the voices of the people are being heard," she said. "We just need to keep bringing things to the table."