A Winnipeg shelter running low on space in the midst of a cold snap, has called on all three levels of government for help.
Siloam Mission has 110 beds in its emergency shelter but turned away close to 30 people Sunday night when overnight wind chills dipped into the minus thirties.
The shelter wants to increase the number of beds, but needs more money.
Siloam Mission is planning on adding 50 emergency beds through its Make Room capital campaign.
“We need more space, we need more beds just to get people off the streets,” said Siloam Mission CEO Garry Corbett.
On Sunday, a 53-year-old woman was found dead outside Portage Place mall at around 6 a.m. Her death may be related to the cold, but Winnipeg police are still waiting on autopsy results.
Corbett said the woman wasn't a client at Siloam Mission. He said her death shows just how dangerous the cold can be.
“It just tears your heart out that somebody in this day and age would actually freeze to death outside at night,” said Corbett. "The Salvation Army, they are just about two blocks from us, and they will accept people no matter how many people it is. They're sleeping on pews, they're sleeping on the floor, staying out of the cold but it'd be nice to have a place where they can actually go to bed at night."
Siloam Mission is asking the province for $3 million and the city for $2.3 million over five years.
On Friday, the Executive Policy Committee rejected Siloam's request for a grant, but councillor Brian Mayes said the city is supportive of the idea and is looking at other funding options.
"I think there's the political will here to try and find some more money for Siloam,” said Mayes. “It may take a few years to do that but there was certainly that commitment there."
A provincial spokesperson said the Manitoba government is aware of Siloam Mission’s funding request and will be meeting with the organization in January to discuss the project.
The executive director for Main Street Project said it is re-establishing a program to patrol the streets overnight looking for vulnerable people who shouldn’t be outside.
Rick Lees said as of Monday night a van with two staff members will be back on the road making sure no one gets left in the cold.
He said it’s been six years since the van hit the streets.
Staff will have warm clothing, socks and food and will be able to take anyone who needs a ride to either Siloam Mission, the Salvation Army’s Booth Centre or the Main Street Project.
Although the organization doesn’t have funding yet for the program, Lees felt it was important to get the van back on the road during the cold snap.
