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The Struggle to Stay Warm

Friday, 3 January 2014 11:32

Despite this week's extreme cold, numbers haven't gone up at Woodstock's shelter.

The temperature has been plummeting, but attendance has been steady at the Inn Out of the Cold.

The homeless shelter in Woodstock has been seeing the typical 8-10 guests over the last few nights.  That's been about the average so far this season.

But the struggle to stay warm doesn't end when the Inn lets its guests out for the day at 7AM.

Shelter Coordinator Eric Schmedl says during the day, the homeless make use of Operation Sharing's Meeting Place, the Library and coffee shops as a way to keep warm.  He also thanks the Woodstock YMCA for helping by making use of their facility.  "They also get support from the YMCA who allows the guests to go in for showers on a daily basis.  I heard some of them commenting that's the highlight of their day."

Schmedl says the extreme cold doesn't change the struggles faced by those who are on the street.  "You have to try to stay warm, but also some of them are looking for accommodations and apartments, some are looking for work.  The struggles don't change with the cold."

The Inn, located at Old St. Paul's Anglican Church on Dundas, is always looking for donations of food items, including coffee, sugar, milk and cream.  A warm cup of coffee when the guests show up at night is another one of their daily highlights, according to Schmedl.

The shelter is open nightly for guests from 7PM to 7AM.

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