Cambridge has shelter beds and that's a good thing, but staff at The Bridges are wondering why

The executive director of the Cambridge Shelter Corp., also known as The Bridges, says normally at this time of year, there would be no beds available for people experiencing homelessness.

But this year, there are open beds and staff aren't sure why. 

"Especially around the storm ... we were expecting a big influx of people coming in and we didn't see that, so we're trying to figure out, because we have open beds, why aren't these individuals accessing those beds? Why are they choosing to remain in their encampments?" Wayne Paddick told The Morning Edition on Monday.

"That's what at The Bridges we're trying to figure out, how we can get these individuals inside and engage in those meaningful housing conversations."

Having open beds is not necessarily a bad thing, said Paddick, since The Bridges and Cambridge's winter overflow shelter would normally be "busting at the seams" this time of year.

Of the 85 beds available at the shelter, 15 are open, he said. At the overflow shelter, which has 40 beds available, only 30 are regularly filled. 

Paddick said it could be because people in Cambridge who are experiencing homelessness don't often want to leave the city to access supports in Kitchener and vice versa.

Chris McEvoy, manager or housing policy and homelessness prevention with the region's housing services, told CBC News, there's several reason why some shelters see more people coming in than others.

"We know people want to be served and supported in the community they call home," he said, adding that not every organization will operate an emergency shelter the same way.

"People will have preferences based on the operating principles, the relationship they have with staff at different facilities, as well as the community they call home."

Homelessness is a fluid situation

Homelessness is also a fluid situation for many people, McEvoy adds, which could also be why some shelters are at capacity and others are not. Someone may choose to stay with family for a few nights or move to an encampment or seek a shelter bed.

McEvoy said because the region's shelter system is a collaborative system, having space and beds available means shelters can respond to a surge in need or demand should there be one. 

"For example, with the snow storm that occurred just before Dec. 25, we did see an increase in emergency shelter uptake and spaces and usage because of that severe inclement weather," he said.

Since the fall, the region has added approximately 114 shelter spaces, McEvoy said, and is planning to add another 125 spaces by the end of the winter, which includes the outdoor cabin encampment at 1001 Erbs Rd. and the spaces that will be available at the House of Friendship.