‘Life-or-death situation’: Winnipeg shelter at capacity every day, as extreme cold continues

Demand for overnight spaces is outpacing supply in some Winnipeg shelters, as the city deals with incredibly cold temperatures this week.

The “Just a Warm Sleep” overnight no-barrier shelter on Winnipeg’s Pulford Street – which provides warmth and refuge for many in the city left to face the elements alone – says demand is surpassing the amount of availability.

“We have been full every single night,” said Oksana Preachuk. “In minus-40 Celcius, frost bite can literally happen in minutes.”

Some nights in Winnipeg are dropping to minus-45 C with the windchill. Environment Canada confirmed a person would face frostbite in minutes at those temperatures.

Winnipeggers brave the cold on Dec. 6, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Morgan Modjeski)

With space for roughly 30 people, Preachuk says the shelter is maxed out every day. They say they have been trying to find alternative shelter at organizations elsewhere in the city for their clients. But it’s been a challenge.

“Either they are at capacity, or they are understaffed and they don’t have the staff and the volunteer support to bring in some our guests,” said Preachuk. “So it’s tough, it’s very tough to turn those people away.”

Preachuk says the shelter, which is under the 1JustCity organization, is looking for people to volunteer their time. They also need monetary donations for the shelter’s immediate needs during the bitter winter months.

“People are so thankful and so grateful, all they want is the security to know that they have a place to be sheltered for the night,” said Preachuk.

“Especially in winter in Winnipeg, we know how brutal it is.”

A Winnipegger braves the cold on Dec. 6, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Morgan Modjeski)

She says while organizations like 1JustCity are doing their best, more needs to be done to get people into long-term housing. Preachuk says that means government reducing barriers and red tape for accessing programs like Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) and other supports.

“It’s a life-or-death situation,” said Preachuk. “Quite literally, if people don’t have a place to go when its minus-40 Celcius out, if they don’t have a warm coat, if they don’t have the proper clothing out there to keep them warm, it’s literally life or death.”