Homeless Windsorites struggle to find shelter to prepare for winter.

Eugenio Mendoza

Homeless Winter

Nov.7, 2014

As winter approaches many citizens say they are concerned with the amount of people who will be sleeping on the streets.

 

A local resident, Emily Ternosky, said the city should do whatever they can to provide homeless people with resources.

 

“These people live in this city, this is their home and they support this place as much as any person with a job,” said Ternosky. “I believe the city should at least get these people involved in an employment program or help them out with food more. It is very hard to even utilize the food bank these days.”

 

There are currently three local organizations that provide shelter to the homeless.

 

Dino Salvador, program director at the Downtown Mission, said because of city laws he is only allowed to accommodate around 20 people per night.

 

“Getting into the cold season, we find that people will seek out help for us to find housing, and some of them will even crash on their friend’s couches to get out of the cold,” said Salvador. “We try to do our little part to provide some relief from the cold and elements to come inside to find some security and peace to try to sleep through the night.”

 

He said it is difficult to provide their guest with everything they need because they are unable to run a 24-hour program. Their day programs are open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and night accommodations are available from 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m.

 

“I hope that at some point down the road we could provide something that is 24-hours but we’re not quite at that point,” said Salvador.

 

In 2013, The Canadian Homelessness Research Network found 30,000 Canadians are homeless on any given day.

 

Basil Paul, a former truck driver, said he lost everything to addiction and finds it very difficult to survive during the winter.

 

“Trying to endure the elements, that is the hard part. I was out there a long time and my body couldn’t handle it anymore. Being diabetic, with arthritis my bones just couldn’t handle it,” said Paul.  “We need more comfort. That’s all there is to it. I was out there last night sleeping outside and it wasn’t a pretty sight.”

 

He said although he has been able to find a few jobs as a carpenter he cannot find a steady source of income. He said he is very grateful for the Downtown Mission.

“They provide me with a lot of services, equity, housing and everything else that I need. Mr. Dino here has helped me greatly,” said Paul.