Bitter cold driving older men to shelters, food banks

The ongoing cold spell is putting increasing pressure on local agencies working to help people who are less fortunate.

A growing number of older men have been staying overnight at the Out of the Cold program hosted by St. Catharines churches, and the local food bank’s supplies of men’s winter clothing is running thin.

“We have, at times, had to go and buy gloves and coats because we made a determination that people should not go without proper winter wear in this weather,” said Betty-Lou Souter, chief executive officer of Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.

With temperatures dipping as low as –25 C with the windchill, people on limited incomes are finding keeping warm, fed and housed an increased challenge.

Souter said even though utilities cannot switch off a person’s hydro during cold weather events, residents on limited incomes are aware the longer they keep the heat on, the more expensive their bill will be.

Out of the Cold executive director Susan Venditti said people are coming to the Out of the Cold program — it provides hot meals and overnight shelter in the winter — for dinners as a way to cut their food bill.

“They use it as a way to reduce their grocery bill and supplement the food they get from the food bank so they can save money for rent, which is not a good way to live.”

However, she said the total number of people coming to Out of the Cold for meals has fallen slightly below the average of about 200 because it has been too cold for people to make the trek to a host church.

Still, she said, there have been a growing number of younger people with low-paying jobs coming to Out of the Cold for meals.

The number of people staying overnight has risen about 10 per cent with the cold spell, she said.

She has noticed the increase is mostly the result of single, older men needing overnight shelter.

That mirrors the demand seen by Souter at Community Care.

Like Out of the Cold, Community Care is seeing a marked rise in demand from single men who need coats, gloves boots and hats.

The weather is forecast to warm up early this week before it starts to again get colder by Thursday and Friday. Souter said donations of clothing can be made at Community Care’s offices at 12 North St.

The Out of the Cold schedule is online at startmeupniagara.ca/outof-the-cold-schedule.