Homeless in Saskatoon suffering in sweltering heat as pandemic cuts down on places to cool off

Support groups in Saskatoon are scrambling to bring needed relief topeople experiencing homelessness in the city, as much of Saskatchewanrides a heat wave into the weekend.

"We're having to look at reducing our food deliveries so we can get out on the street and hand out water to people so they can rehydrate," said Don Meikle, the executive director of the outreach group Egadz.

"Something's got to give. It's a real mess right now."

The City of Saskatoon has a heat response strategy. At its core is a list of designated cool-down locations where homeless people can gather and escape the heat. The list includes public spaces like public libraries and leisure centres.

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The problem is thatsome of the usual places where people might go to escape the heat are shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and physical distancing guidelines cut the number of people who would be allowed into cool zones.

"People are walking around out there and dehydrated and not feeling well," said Meikle. "Some people could be sick" with heat exhaustion or even heatstroke, he said.

Bottled drinks urgently needed

Lyn Brown, the executive director of the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership, or SHIP, agreed with Meikle, saying Egadz is not alone.

"That's exactly the same situation that a number of different organizations are dealing with," Brown said.

Even the basic task of supplying water to people out on the streets is made difficult in the current pandemic, because it comes in bottles that must be distributed carefully.

People are walking around out there dehydrated and not feeling well.- Don Meikle, Egadz

Saskatoon is at a Level 3 heat event, meaning an alert is sent out by the Emergency ManagementOrganization.

But Brown said many homeless people will not receive those digital alerts,so SHIP is working hard to reach people,putting up posters to try to reach people.

What's needed most, though, according to Brown and Meikle, is donations of bottled water or sports drinks that can be handed out by various agencies.

People who would like to donate can call SHIP at 306-979-6707, or you can drop off water and sports drinks at Egadz at 485 First Ave. N. in Saskatoon from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.