It’s going to feel like -20C tonight, with significant snowfall amounts of up to 20 cm expected Saturday, Jan. 18.
In this type of cold snap that’s forecasted to last for at least the next few weeks, people experiencing homelessness can die, Blue Door Shelters CEO Michael Braithwaite said today on Twitter.
“I’m not for drama … but everyone deserves a safe place to call home. It’s up to all of us to be the solution. Do your part. Start with being kind,” he said.
If you notice a vulnerable person in the community who is sleeping outside in the cold, here’s what you can do:
- In an emergency, always call 911.
- Call or text Newmarket’s Loft Crosslinks street outreach van at 416-274-4972, which provides food, clothing, sleeping bags and blankets, needle exchange, and support with mental health and addiction daily from 2 to 9 p.m.
- Call Ontario’s 2-1-1 helpline to find emergency programs and services in York Region, or visit them online to live chat or email.
- Call, email, visit online or in person the Regional Municipality of York’s Access York contact centre, which provides information, referrals and application services for York Region programs and services. Its hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 1-877-464-9675, email [email protected], visit them here. Access York is located at 17250 Yonge St., 1st Floor, in the York Region Administrative Centre.
- York Region’s extreme cold weather page on its website offers links to community resources, including temporary emergency shelters, and information about the health problems that can result from prolonged exposure to the cold, such as frostbite and hypothermia.
- Call the Town of Newmarket’s customer service line at 905-895-5193 so a formal ticket is created and the situation can be investigated. Regular hours are Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but after-hours callers can select the non-emergency option for local matters that require immediate attention.
When the town is made aware of vulnerable individuals that may require assistance, they dispatch a bylaw officer to check up on the individual.
The bylaw officer makes every attempt to assist those in need with the help of York Region Social Services and other local agencies such as seasonal homeless shelter, Inn from the Cold.
“The goal is to ensure individuals in vulnerable situations are connected with the appropriate resources that can better assist them,” a town spokesperson said. “Our bylaw department facilitates this process, since calls for concern are usually forwarded to them from the general public. Our front-line staff also notify bylaw if they see vulnerable individuals in need.”
There are emergency shelters in Newmarket and throughout York Region that provide services and support for women, men, families, and youth.
Editor's note: This article was updated on Jan. 23, 2020 to include information provided by the Regional Municipality of York.
