Bitter cold has Winnipeggers looking for housing, supporting those in need

Even in the bitingcold, Lawrence Corbierespends his days outsideby choice, but he knows some of thevulnerable people he meetsin Winnipeg's inner city don'thave the same option.

"My fingertips nearly froze a couple times. But I've seen a guy, he lost all his fingertips because they froze."

Corbierehas a home, but drops into theLighthouse Mission andSiloam Mission to pick up lunch or warm upwhilepicking up litter in the area.

He walks Main Street, dressed in orange clothingand carrying a bucket to dispose of the garbage he finds. He feels the blustery cold of one of winter's most frigid days in his hands.

"It's pretty hard. It's pretty cold," Corbiere said on Friday, while adjusting the cap that a gust of windblew off his head moments ago.

"If I was a millionaire, or if I was rich, I would buy a warehousekeep the [unhoused]warm, get them off the street."

After weeks of milder temperatures, a sustained deep freeze is promptingWinnipeg's homeless shelters to worktogether to help people escape the cold.

Lighthouse Mission, which gives outwarm clothing and food, is expecting a spike in demand for their services. The organizationrefers people needing somewheresleep to other organizations with the necessaryaccommodations.

"Our strength is our connection to the other agencies that do have overnight shelters," director Peter McMullen said.

"We connect with them, especially when there's individuals who are really having a tough time and maybe they just can't figure out how to do it on their own."

WATCH | Winnipeg shelters strive to help those in need:

Winnipeg shelters gear up as bitter cold hits city

2 years ago

Duration 2:09

A return to frigid winter temperatures has Winnipeg homeless shelters preparing to help people escape the cold. It comes as a mild January gives way to a deep freeze taking hold right across southern Manitoba.

People trying to stay in Winnipeg shelterssay overnight space is hard to find right now.

SiloamMission, Salvation Army and others at capacityhave been sending people in need to Main Street Project or wherever there might be beds, according to the centres. Late Saturday, few available beds remained at N'Dinawemak, at 190 Disraeli.

Cassandra Sohor says shehas struggled lately to access overnight shelter.

"[Beds] are hard to come by these days," she said.

"Sometimes you go down to the hotels at Sutherland [Avenue] and people that have next tonothing, we're all supporting each other with simple things like bread and getting what we need."

Helping HandWarriors was stationed in front of Main Street Projectto give coffee, soup and sandwiches to people like Sohor. She said community members are also looking out for each other.

"When it's cold out and you have no place to go, just keep on walkingnever pass out and if the shelters are full, find a couch to surf on," she advises.

'Our relatives need the food'

"We come out every Saturday and we comeno matter the weather really hot, really cold like today," said Angela Brass, who volunteers with Helping Hands.

"We're out here because this is the time that our relatives need the food. They need the warm food inside of them."

The recent cold snap has reopened the doors of a new warming shelter in the St. Vital neighbourhood, which began operating following the death of a woman at abus shelter earlier this winter..

The warming place, which opens when temperatures plunge,gaveTabitha Andrusko a safe to play to stay.

"It's a lot better than any other shelter that I've been in because it's safer, quieter," Andrusko said.

The shelter in a city-owned building is run by St. Boniface Street Links, which has been working with Andrusko over the last few weeks to find her permanent housing. She said she's confident they'llfind her a place to call her own.

The organization hopes to provide permanent housing to at least half of the peoplewho stay with them during this cold snap, in discussions withwith landlords and property management companies.

Abraham Saddleback, who's staying at the shelter with 15 beds,is counting on that help, too.

He has a job which he says has given him hope of better days but he has yet tosave enough money to secure permanent housing.

Saddleback says he's just striving for a normal life.

"If this works out for me then likeI'll be just like every other person,working, having their own home and just getting by," he said.