'I don't really sleep': Surviving a freezing B.C. winter when you have no home

Kelowna and Prince Georgeare just a few of the many cities across British Columbia that are struggling with increasinghomelessness.

Earlier this week inKelowna, the city shut down a growing tent city on a downtown streetand opened uptwo parks where people can camp at night. The city's shelters are full and a winter shelter location still hasn't been identified.

Meanwhile, in Prince George some say they have to line up early in the day tobe able to secure a shelter spot.

With temperatures expected to continue to drop well below freezing, this is what some people are doing to survivethe sub-zero temperatures while livingwithout a home.

Friends Leonard Willard and Star Quaw try to look after each other in Prince George. They say it's tough to get spots in a shelter."It's hard to sleep in the cold," said Quaw.

"I don't really sleep.I sleep maybe once a week," added Willard.

When they can't get a spot inside, they cover up with a tarpand try to find somewhere to plug in a hair-dryerthey have.

"It warms you up," said Willard.

Jolene Hansen who is from Fort St. James and now lives in Prince George has survived two decades of homelessness.

"There used to be a spot behind the City Hallwhere the heat used to come out. That was one of the spots I used to sleep at night. I stayed there one whole winter. They shut it off now," said Hansen.

Trevor Charles, who washomeless forfour years in Prince George, would lineup early to get into a shelter.

"If you're not there right at the right time to get a bed, you're probably going to sleep outside for the night," he said.

"If you're the 15th guy or 14th guy, you're probably not going to get a bed."

Gina Thomson, sleeps in a tentin a Kelowna park designated for people who don't have shelter during the night. She said being in an open park instead of on a downtown streetmeans the cold wind off Okanagan Lake isn't blocked by buildings.

Thomson said she wears about five layers of clothing to stay warm and hasa bag filled withblankets.