By Tanya Cronin

Cold snap making emergency shelters busy

Feb 21, 2018 | 3:53 PM

KAMLOOPS — The current cold spell Kamloops is experiencing is posing a serious risk for the city’s homeless population, and emergency shelters are busy.

The out of the cold program has been bursting at the seams, with the city’s most vulnerable seeking refuge from the bitter elements. On Sunday night, the program, run out of the basement of St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, had 57 overnight visitors.     

“It’s a tough time for these people when it gets this cold, it’s not bad when it’s -5 everything is dry and they can stay warm, but when it gets this cold it’s really tough for them to stay warm,” says Bud Forbes, Out of the Cold Program.

The out of the cold shelter runs Wednesdays and Sundays until the end of March. With the mercury dipping well below zero for the rest of the week, and more snow expected, the program will do whatever it takes to keep people warm. The shelter is also in need of donations, particularly socks. 

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“When all this snow starts to melt, we go through a lot of socks, probably 40 pair a night when it gets wet. Right now, gloves are needed, we have lots of toques but we’re short on gloves.” says Forbes.