An extended spell of bitterly cold weather (with sub-zero temperatures in the -7 C to -11 C range) from late last week through the weekend saw White Rock and South Surrey area warming shelters for unhoused people operating at, or above, capacity.
“We hit capacity – which is 30 people – late last week and actually exceeded that substantially,” said Upkar Tatlay, founder of Engaged Communities Canada Society, which operates the White Rock Warming Centre day and night, next to the baseball diamond at Centennial Park.
“That is where the compassion part, the humanitarian part comes into it, because you don’t want to turn people away, you want to keep them safe,” he said.
On the upside, he said, an outpouring of support and donations from community members is signalling an increasing awareness of the plight of the unhoused.
READ ALSO: Shelters in Surrey, White Rock open as temperatures set to drop to -11°C
For the White Rock centre, he said, exceeding capacity meant removing some partitions and barriers so that people could be accommodated “sitting almost shoulder to shoulder”.
Others waited outside for an opportunity to come into the centre, but staff brought food out to them and checked on them on a continuing basis, he said.
He said that the overnight shelter at the South Surrey Recreation Centre, to which ECCS provides transportation, and which accommodates some 45 adults, was also open through the weekend, although it, like other Surrey shelters had originally planned to stay open only until Jan. 11.
Such a cold spell presents lots of challenges, Tatlay said.
“When you have such low temperatures, even for a few days, it continues to compound problems (among unhoused people) such as infections and wounds and other injuries from slips and falls due to icy conditions.”
Among night shelters open in Surrey were the Surrey Welcome Hub (1345 King George Blvd.,15 adult guests), Surrey Alliance Church (13474 96 Ave., 30 adults), Nightshift Ministries (10635 King George Blvd.,16 adults).
Shimai Transition House (13327 100 A Ave.)offered space for six women and Pacific Community Resources Society (10453 Whalley Blvd.) had room for 10 people 24 years old and younger.
“It’s not just us – we’re all trying,” Tatlay said.
“But more than any other year before, the beautiful aspect this year has been the outpouring of support and donations from the community,” he said.
“Even if it’s just passersby talking to shelter guests, asking how they are and letting them know that people care about them. Sometimes I think people don’t realize just how important that is.”
Adding to other help, donations that had been dropped off too late to benefit the White Rock Baptist Church’s collections for the Pantry Stocking Project were packaged up and delivered to the White Rock warming centre on Friday (Jan. 12).
“We had such overwhelming support from our church community and the community at large bringing in newly bought items of jackets, clothing, socks, mittens, hats, toiletries, food, etc. for the Pantry Project Christmas Stockings,” Fiona Lai said in an email.
“Some items were brought to us after we had packed them on Dec. 1 and delivered them on Dec. 2. We were looking for a place where our donations would make an impact on those who are unhoused in our neighbourhood.”
– with files from Tracy Holmes