It may be chilly this week, but you don't know cold until you've had to sleep in it.
With the temperature dropping below freezing for the first time this winter, the Lookout Emergency Aid Society has made room for more beds in its emergency weather shelter.
"We're full every day and normally when we're full, we turn people away. But when an extreme weather response is on, we don't turn people away. We'll put up to 20 mats on the floor and if that fills up, we can put 20 additional mats in North Shore Neighbourhood House," said David Newberry, Lookout's community liaison.
Lookout has the licence and funding to expand its regular 45-bed shelter anytime the mercury hits 0 C, or if there's snow or freezing rain, or if rain persists for more than three days.
The only other option, Newberry said, is for homeless people to sleep outside in the elements, most commonly camping in the North Shore's wooded areas.
With the start of winter weather, Lookout staff contact all of the North Shore's service agencies and put up posters in public places letting anyone who doesn't have a place to go to escape the biting cold know that they are welcome inside at the shelter.
"It takes a little while for the word to get out that the program has restarted. We just had two people last night but we're expecting more tonight," Newberry said on Wednesday.
Once at the shelter, clients can be connected with services aimed at getting them help with addiction, health or employment. Lookout also operates 25 suites of transitional housing where clients can stay for up to two years as they transition back to independent living.
While the shelter gets some funding from the province as well as the North Shore's three municipalities, staff and clients also depend on donations from the public.
"At this time of year, we're always in need of donations of warm clothing. The main things are gloves, toques and boots, practical things like underwear and coats," Newberry said.
Beyond offering a warm bed and three healthy meals, the Lookout workers and volunteers also try tO see that every client they meet has a merry Christmas as well.
"We know it's a particularly difficult time of year for people who are struggling. We try to make that a little bit brighter by providing everybody with a gift on Dec. 25. In order to do that, it all needs to be done by donation," said Newberry.
For that, donations of items that would be appreciated or useful for someone without housing can be dropped off at the shelter at 705 West Second St.
