Polar vortex: an additional center and a squad to counter the cold among people experiencing homelessness

Community resources helping people experiencing homelessness in Quebec and Lévis are organized as the cold weather approaches, with the goal that “no one dies from the cold”.

• Also read: Polar vortex in Quebec: the temperature could drop by 20 to 30 degrees during the weekend

In Quebec, the Regroupement pour l’aide aux itinérants de Québec (RAIIQ) is preparing the opening of a second respite center for the evening and night from Sunday to next Monday, when the mercury should drastically drop to – 15 degrees Celsius.

Open “sporadically” during extreme cold, this second premises, located in the basement of the Saint-Roch Church, will remain open at least for a few days, while temperatures of -26 and -22 Celsius are expected. planned continuation.

“It’s important to meet everyone’s needs and not turn anyone away in a context of extreme weather,” says Mary-Lee Plante, organizer at RAIIQ.

The Lower Town Respite, open year-round from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and located on Saint-Joseph Street, also allows homeless people to come and warm up there.

“We don’t have beds as such, it’s more like chairs and we serve hot drinks and snacks there,” explains M.^me Plante.

In total, the two premises can accommodate nearly 150 people, specifies the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale.

Patrol of responders

In Lévis, a group of speakers called “The Sentinels of the Cold” will patrol the streets of greater Lévis, with the aim of offering – although very limited – emergency accommodation referrals for people in situation homelessness, in addition to equipment to prevent frostbite.

The workers take action as soon as the temperatures are around -20 degrees, explains Émilie Larocque, the general director of the Society for Rehabilitation and Community Integration (SRIC).

“We patrol with clothes, backpacks to give containing mittens, blankets and winter boots, first aid kits, everything you need to avoid frostbite,” she adds.

Although homelessness is also on the rise in Lévis, emergency beds are “sorely lacking”.

Lack of space

“The number of refusals [pour un hébergement d’urgence] due to lack of space literally exploded,” deplores M^me Larocque.

At the Maison des Hauts-Bois, where nine places in accommodation and three camp beds are offered during extreme cold, people are refused “daily”, she says.

Last year, the center received 1,380 requests for accommodation. Of this number, 676 were refused because they were full.

Data which has more than quadrupled compared to the previous year. “It’s huge […] The urgency is there,” she illustrates.

Unfortunately, refusals of emergency accommodation due to lack of space are also daily in Quebec, despite the approximately 190 places available through various resources including Lauberivière, which can accommodate up to 150 people during “peak periods”.

“It takes emergency places like respites, since people don’t always have access to accommodation beds. Every night, people are turned away due to lack of space, in quite a few centers,” says M.^me Plante.