The sudden onset of frigid weather has made life miserable for people who live on the streets of Edmonton.
“I’m sleeping by myself outside right now, and it’s cold, really cold,” said Misty Desjarlais.
Like many homeless people, Desjarlais, 29, suffers from a multitude of health problems. She has epilepsy and is now battling pneumonia.
The shelters in Edmonton are full, she says, and they won’t let her in if she has been drinking. So Desjarlais spends her days trying to find a warm place to go.
“I go find an apartment door,” she said. “If it’s open, I’ll go sleep in the hallway if I have to just to keep warm.”
Boyle Street Community Services has moved to winter hours, staying open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.
Workers are trying to help people with different needs cope with the shift in weather.
“There’s a lot of people with reduced mobility and a lot of elderly people. Being outside is not, not a great option,” said drop-in program coordinator Laine Wannechko.
While shelter is what the homeless need the most, warm clothing can also help. Right now Boyle Community Services is collecting new socks for the homeless in hopes of preventing severe infections that can lead to amputations.
There is also a need for other types of warm winter clothing like hats, gloves and long johns.
The CBC’s sock drive for the homeless ends at 6 p.m. today but people can still drop off sock donations at Boyle Community Services.
