Shelters support city’s most vulnerable amid storm

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This article was published 13/04/2022 (1676 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon non-profit organizations are working together to ensure the city’s most vulnerable can stay safe and warm during the unseasonal April snowstorm.

One of the biggest concerns created by the wet snow walloping Westman is the ability of those who are unhoused to stay safe, dry and warm, said Brandon Bear Clan outreach worker Jade Gamblin. Strong winds, wet environments and dropping temperatures present an increased risk of hypothermia or frostbite.

“It’s so wet and they’re sitting on the ground, they don’t exactly have furniture to sit on or places to keep warm and dry.”

Environment Canada called for snowfall between five to 10 centimetres Wednesday evening with a wind chill of -16 C overnight. The blizzard was anticipated to end Thursday morning, with an additional snowfall of five centimetres and a wind chill nearing -17 C today.

Many people do not have the disposable income to stock up on supplies to weather the storm or family or friends to go to for support, Gamblin said. This makes it important to get essential items — blankets, jackets, tarps, gloves and hand warmers — out to those who are vulnerable to the storm.

Brandon Bear Clan will be on patrol today and Friday. The patrol may be mobile, meaning they will patrol in a car to deliver essential supplies if conditions are too cold or dangerous.

“We’re a community. We’re all just here trying to help everybody out the best we can. Sometimes, if you can’t help out with anything, be a good person and acknowledge that there are people that are struggling.”

In the past, Brandon’s unhoused and vulnerable community has faced adversity when seeking shelter during extreme weather, said Ask Auntie Brandon co-ordinator Florence Halcrow. Halcrow runs The Blue Door Project, which is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Shelter accessibility has increased through non-profits like The Blue Door Project and Samaritan House Ministries working together to provide extended hours of coverage for those in need.

“In the past, they had a hard time finding shelter to stay warm, or a place to eat their meals,” Halcrow said. “Now they have more opportunities to stay warm during the storm.”

The Blue Door Project is working with other organizations in the city, including 7th Street Health Access Centre, Samaritan House, The Helping Hands Centre of Brandon and the Brandon Friendship Centre to ensure there are more options allowing unhoused people to stay warm throughout the day and find shelter from the storm.

During the blizzard, Halcrow’s biggest concern is ensuring access to food and shelter, especially with the potential threat of power outages. A generator has been set up at the Blue Door to account for any potential outages, and staff are prepared to stay overnight if needed.

The Blue Door Project is always accepting donations such as blankets, food, warm clothing, socks, shoes and other necessities, to ensure people can say safe, warm and dry. First-aid supplies also remain essential along with hand and foot warmers.

Samaritan House Ministries, which runs the Safe and Warm Shelter and food bank, are prepared for the storm thanks to the advanced notice they were given, said executive director Barbara McNish.

“We had plenty of warning it was coming, so we got prepared,” McNish said. “We do have an emergency plan in place if we need to do that.”

The non-profit worked with the City of Brandon to create contingencies based on if the shelter loses power and heat during the storm.

Through the operations of the shelter and food bank, Samaritan House has access to many resources, she added, and it has been able to build strong networks with other non-profits to ensure vulnerable community members are supported, especially during times of crisis.

She appreciates the Brandon community’s awareness of the needs of organizations like the Safe and Warm Shelter and its motivation to provide support and resources to those in need. McNish praised active social media sites that are also fostering connections to ensure organizations have the supplies they need.

“The only concern we had was if we had a power outage, but networking with the City of Brandon and their emergency response team, they were very helpful and we have an emergency plan in place,” McNish said.

“Most of the concerns that we had have been addressed. We are safe, we are warm, we’ve got some hot food for people, we’ve got staff in place and we’ve got a backup plan if the power goes out.”

» ckemp@brandonsun.com

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