Downtown Halifax warming centre opens 'so people don't die outside'

Up to 30people are takingrefuge from the blowing snowat the emergency winter warming centre in the basementof St. Matthew's Church on Barrington Street in Halifax.

The centre opens during extreme weather events and when temperatures dip below 15 C. Today, the centre opened its doors for the tenth time this year.

"I came to lend a smile,"says KenMeldrum,a regular volunteerat the centre. "I had cabin fever, so I came down to shovel or salt, or giggle or laugh."

Meldrumsaidhe comes to spend time with disadvantaged people who don'thave "a luxury space or family"to wait out the storm with.Meldumsaidhe knew the centre would need an extra hand today, sowalked to the centre this morning andhas been drying guests' boots and mittens on a boot-dryer.

Centre co-ordinatorEric Jonssonsaidon days when most of the city is shut down,the warming centre is a necessity for Halifax's homeless population.

"There's some food, coffee and hot drinks, aplace to get out of the elements," he said. "It's mostly just a place so people don't die outside."

Jonssonsaidthe centre isa community effort. Ateam oforganizations, such asPhoenix Youth Programs and Shelter Nova Scotia, are contributing funds to keep the centre open during extreme weather.He saidthe centre was serving coffee anddonated casseroles today, and that the volunteers try to do whatever they can for guests.

Jonsson saidthat if the centrewasn't open, the people there would be inATM areas at banks, or huddling in the overhangs along Spring Garden road.With today's high winds,they could be in real danger, he said.

"With blowing snow like this, I don't know what they would do," Jonsson said. "I've always been amazed at howpeople ... can figure out howto survive in ways that I think a lot of us would never even consider."

The warming centre is open in the same space as Out of the Cold, an overnight program that offers cots for sleeping, and is handled by different staff.

Jonsson saidthe centre will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. as long as the extreme weather and temperatures persist.

If people haven't left by 8 p.m., Jonssonsaid they usually try to get a cot, but there's only so many.

A shelter co-ordinator says if people don't get a bed, they're allowed to stay for the night or until the severe weather passes.