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Shelter Numbers Increase as the Mercury Continues to Drop

Thursday, 7 January 2016 13:24

The Inn and Out of the Cold Program in Woodstock has noticed a bit of an increase thanks to the arrival of old man winter.

WOODSTOCK - As the mercury continues to drop in Oxford County, the number of people who are using the Inn and Out of the Cold Program from Operation Sharing is on the rise.

On average about 6-8 people use the shelter at Old St. Paul's Anglican Church in Woodstock every night which is up from 4-6 people in early December. Coordinator Paul Arsenault tells Heart FM the cold weather is the main reason for the increase.

"Some of the people pay electric baseboard heating and those costs are always more during the winter months, so people can't afford to stay in those places, so they end up at the homeless shelter."

Arsenault says the overall numbers are down so far this year, which is good news as it means more and more people are finding more permanent housing, however he notes they still get plenty of people who need a warm place to stay every night.

"We get a lot of mental health issues, people with mental health issues, substance abuse issues, as well as the elderly and people who live just below the poverty line and can't afford to pay market rents."

Arsenault adds they have been very busy at the shelter as they wrap up their renovations.

"Renovations have been going excellent, we got rid of the drop ceiling at our place, we have new floors put in, it's been painted and we have some showers going in at the shelter and construction is underway."

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