Outreach teams, encampment residents brace for impacts of extended winter conditions

As Winnipeg faces extended winter conditions, outreach teams and local shelters are bracing to begin to shift and focus on the long-term impacts.

“This snow at this time of year, in particular, this type of snowfall makes it very challenging for people who are living outside, makes it very uncomfortable and difficult for outreach teams trying to support people,” said Marion Willis, the founder and executive director of St. Boniface Street Links.

According to End Homelessness Winnipeg’s monthly count, 8,000 people are facing homelessness in the city.

The non-profit says that, due to extended winter conditions, shelters like Siloam Mission extended their services for another month to meet the demand. The shelter is working on emergency capacity beyond its regular timeline.

CityNews reached out to Siloam Mission, but they were not available for an interview.

“The shelters and other services need to stay open for a longer period of time than they normally would,” said Tanis Wheeler, the senior director of community response at End Homelessness Winnipeg.

In a statement, the Salvation Army said the Winnipeg Centre of Hope saw increased demand in December through February, but it’s now leveling out. The daytime warming spaces remain available when temperatures fall below zero.

“It is a humanitarian crisis,” said Wheeler.

Danielle Irante has been living in a tent in the St. Boniface area on and off for the past five years, and the wintery conditions have forced him and residents to adjust, to protect their belongings.

“Just going put it on pallets, keep it off the ground, stay dry. You have to work with it,” said Irante.

Despite the weather, Willis says the area saw at least eight new encampments pop up in the past few weeks, and their outreach team is bracing for a challenging year.

“I’m really hoping I’m wrong about this, but I don’t think so. I think we are going to see many more encampments than we’ve seen in recent years. And it adds strain on every system, neighbourhoods, businesses, and people,” said Willis.

A statement from the City of Winnipeg reads, “As the weather warms, city staff continue to assess the resources needed to carry out the policy and protocol.”

The city encampment protocol introduced in November last year forbids camping in parks, near schools, and by the river.

CityNews also reached out to the province, which said, “Manitobans know that winter ends on its own timeline. That’s why, when we’re preparing for the spring thaw and the coming of summer, we always plan for those unexpected snowstorms like we just received overnight. Due to this weather, Siloam Mission has extended the winter overnight shelter, and we are helping keep N’Dinawemak‘s overnight drop-in space open a bit longer so that Manitobans experiencing homelessness have a place to stay warm.”

Irante says he can adjust to rapidly changing weather conditions, but the looming tent removal has him worried.

“I feel like I am being pushed out,” he explained. “And so do many other people. So we are going to stay in and push back.”