Homelessness services in Ottawa are preparing to help the city’s most vulnerable brave the first cold snap of the winter.
Temperatures are set to plummet this weekend, with Saturday’s overnight low in Ottawa sitting at -20 C — but with the wind, it will feel more like -27.
Some of that preparation includes stocking up on winter gear, but Peter Tilley, the CEO of the Ottawa Mission, says they’re short donations.
They’ve already spent $10,000 on winter coats and boots, something Tilley said they’ll probably have to do again soon.
“Our clients are a very resilient group, but when the first winter snap hits, quite often they’re underdressed or they’re staying outside too long because they haven’t yet gotten used to the cold days,” he said.
Outreach team hitting the streets
The Salvation Army’s outreach team connects with people who aren’t staying in a shelter but are sleeping outside.
The outreach workers have “a very good understanding of who is in need of winter supplies and where they are,” said Mikyla Tacilauskas, the team’s manager.
While there is a high population of homeless people around the downtown core, Tacilauskas said the problem extends to every ward in the city.
The outreach team has been preparing its winter response since October, Tacilauskas said.
“Starting from now until probably March, we are able to provide those [who are staying] outdoors with winter sleeping bags, jackets, snow pants, boots,” she said.
In past years, her team has found people suffering from frostbite and has had to get them emergency help, Tacilauskas said.
They also try to teach people about understanding the signs and symptoms of frostbite and how to respond appropriately, she said.
Crisis task force
Last year, the city announced an emergency shelter crisis task force, as it predicted that the sudden demand for shelter space would overwhelm capacity during the winter.
In October, the City of Ottawa conducted its 2024 point-in-time count, finding that there were 2,952 homeless people in Ottawa — nearly double compared to the last such count in 2021.
The city is committed to finding places indoors for everyone to sleep during the winter, said Alta Vista Coun. Marty Carr — from one of the shelters downtown to overnight spaces at one of the warming centres.
“Over 2,900 people were unsheltered, so the city makes sure that they have a plan to respond to have enough spaces to accommodate anyone that wants to come inside,” said Carr, who sits on the task force.
Every year the city meets with other organizations to discuss what its winter strategy will look like, how many people to expect for, and how to ensure that there’s enough shelter spaces available, Carr said.
Ottawa Public Health’s website lists spots where people can warm up, like libraries and community centres, she added.