(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Ian Gustafson

Winter clothes needed

Red Deer homeless shelters inundated as temperature drops

Oct 26, 2024 | 7:17 PM

As the temperature continues to drop the need for more warm places for the Red Deer homeless community rises.

Red Deer’s largest homeless shelter Safe Harbour Society is averaging nearly 400 people per day through October and executive director Perry Goddard says it’s getting even higher.

Since January 2024, they’ve had 36,000 shelter stays with many returning multiple times.

“The cold weather is only just beginning so we’re expecting an upswing,” Goddard said.

“There are other reasons as well. We’re seeing more and more people come to us from Edmonton and Calgary.”

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Goddard said the reason for that is because since Red Deer is a smaller community, the homeless from the big cities feel safer in central Alberta.

Safe Harbour is also the only low barrier shelter meaning they accept everyone even those who are intoxicated.

Goddard explained they’ve been meeting with the City of Red Deer, along with other local shelters, once a month since the spring in hopes of finding a solution. Since the beginning of October, they’ve been meeting every week.

They’re looking for additional shelter space but in some cases it’s more about additional warming spaces so people don’t freeze.

“We’ve looked at what other cities have done and they’ve addressed it in numerous ways using municipal spaces like recreation centres, and churches,” he said.

“We’ve been working with the city and meet on a weekly basis because we all recognize the urgency there. Hopefully in the next few weeks there will be a shared solution that comes out from the city, the community, and organizations like us.”

Their max capacity at Safe Harbour is just under 200, which is the largest number out of any of the shelters in the community.

Another discussion point Goddard said is if they’re at capacity and someone else shows up looking for a place to stay, what are they supposed to do?

“Ethically and morally we can’t turn anybody away when it’s 30 below,” he said.

Dwayne Kraushar, shelter manager at The Mustard Seed Red Deer location, said in 2023 their shelter was full 90 per cent of the time and this year since January, they’ve been at capacity 97 per cent of the time.

In addition, since Oct. 1 they’ve been at 98 per cent capacity.

“It’s been consistent throughout the year but in the winter we’re seeing more people coming in for our drop in services during the day as well,” he said.

“We’ve seen on monthly average 600 individuals coming in for our drop in services and meal services.”

Kraushar said it’s been busy even when it’s been warm but in the winter it’s all about how they can keep people safe.

“This year we’re turning away an average of two people per night. That’s people who need to access our shelter and in the winter it’s going to get even worse,” he added.

Both shelters are currently looking for new or gently used winter clothes and other items for those in need. To donate visit their websites for more information.