Advocates worry people living outside could die as severe weather hits region

Andrew Ferguson spent Thursday night sleeping beside a dumpster near Oxford and Richmond streets. His hands are now swollen, discoloured and in pain.

"I feel terrible today," said the 33-year-old. "I woke up like I couldn't move. It's just absolutely miserable. It's the worst."

As a winter storm slams southwestern Ontario, some people experiencing homelessness in London are still in search of a warm place to go. The City of London invested $5 million in expanding the homelessness winter response this year, but some advocates are concerned there still aren't enough beds for the number of people in need.

Ferguson spent the day out of the cold at the London Public Library's Central Branch. But after 5 p.m., he's not sure where he'll go. He hopes to sleep on a friend's floor if he can get a hold of him. 

For the last two years, he's had a bed to call his own — from a trailer to an apartment and a shared house through Winter Interim Solution to Homelessness (WISH) — but that ended this week for him, he said.

Before that, he was homeless for six years, and doesn't want to go back. "The rug has been pulled right out from underneath me," he said. 

'We are at risk of losing people'

It's people like Ferguson that outreach workers across the city are working to connect with supports to make sure everyone survives the storm and beyond. 

"With the weather being so severe, we are at risk of losing people and people passing away because of the severity of the storm," said Season Bieronski, manager of housing services at London Cares.

"Having the temperatures drop significantly puts people at a really significant risk for hypothermia or frostbite and some very serious medical emergencies that could take place."

During severe weather, outreach workers focus on bringing people sleeping outside into warming centres and indoor spaces. If people aren't in a position to come inside, they make sure they have warm gear like sleeping bags and dry clothing, she said.

Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) issued a cold weather alert for Thursday and Friday, which launches the opening of day-time warming centres and additional overnight beds at a group of agencies across the city. 

"There are a number of agencies that have really stepped up and work collaboratively to open as many spaces as possible. But the reality is there are, there are always going to be more people than beds," Season said. 

She's proud of the collaboration between the city and agencies "doing our absolute best to get everyone sheltered." But she's still concerned there are not enough spaces to combat an ongoing gap in safe, affordable, permanent housing. 

There's no question more resources are needed to address the crisis, Ark Aid executive director Sarah Campbell said tin an email to CBC News. 

"Our sector remains stretched and underfunded and we need a more permanent solution," she wrote. The organization has expanded access to washrooms, showers, food, drop in centres and overnight spaces so people can get inside during inclement weather.

At My Sister's Place on Dundas Street, a drop-in centre for women, workers have prepared clothes for people to take with them if they need. 

"We've got warm outerwear -- jackets, hats, mitts, scarves, boots, blankets, whatever they need -- and we have food, warm beverages. We're just doing anything we can to help," said Rose Whalen, the team lead for outreach program at the agency.

Anyone who doesn't have a place to sleep is being referred to shelters so they don't have to sleep outside, she said. 

Where to find warming centres

The London Public Library is welcoming Londoners to stay warm inside during regular hours of operations.Thursday the library is closing at 5 p.m. due to the weather. 

The following community centres also opened Friday as warming centres. 

• Stronach Arena located at 1221 Sanford St. (9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.).
• Medway Arena located at 119 Sherwood Forest Square (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.).
• Earl Nichols Arena located at 799 Homeview Rd. (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.)

These locations are open Saturday as warming centres. 

• Earl Nichols Arena located at 799 Homeview Rd (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
• Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre at 656 Elizabeth St. (9 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

If you find someone sleeping rough in need of support, call London Cares at 519-667-2273. In an emergency, call 9-1-1.