Some Thunder Bay homeless people sleeping outside in extreme cold
Community groups working on solutions for those barred from Shelter House due to violence
Some Thunder Bay homeless people still find themselves out in the cold at night – and the acting executive director of Shelter House says he's trying to find solutions for the handful of homeless who are periodically barred from his facility due to violent or threatening behavior.
Brad King has reached out to other community groups to try and get an Out of the Cold program in Thunder Bay for next season, he said.
Such a program would involve setting up a makeshift shelter in a facility such as a church basement to provide options for people who can't be at Shelter House on a given night.
Right now, Thunder Bay has no extra cold weather beds, King said, adding that's extraordinary given the local climate.
One homeless man, who was at City Hall during the launch of last weekend's homeless count, said spending winter in the cold is a tough struggle.
"When the shelter don't allow you, I have to find a place to crash out for a little while just to warm up, like the parkade – the one across the street. I've got to keep moving around to keep warm," said Ramsey Cutfeet.
'It's not right to treat people like that'
"There's about five people I've seen at the shelter. They're not even allowed there. They're barred from there. They have to sleep outside," he said.
"That's not right, man. It's not right to treat people like that if they don't have a home."
Shelter House is a low barrier facility, King said, meaning it admits people based on behavior.
"The kind of behavior that will get somebody barred is usually violence — extreme violence — threats against the safety of our staff or other residents," he said. "We do take safety very seriously here."
Shelter House continues to work with those who aren't allowed in its building, King added, noting its Street Outreach Services (SOS) van provides warm blankets and supplies to homeless people and can transport them to detox or to the Salvation Army men's shelter, which will admit them if they're clean and sober.
The facility also practices cold weather compassion; it will allow banned individuals back into the shelter if the temperature drops below -15, provided all staff agree that it's safe to do so.
Currently, that's not working for one individual, King said, leaving him out of options.