Mobile shelter inadequate for the problem

Some members of the community are disappointed with how the city is managing the new warming shelter service, and advocates are calling for a better solution.

The new mobile warming shelter in Lloydminster provides a crucial lifeline for people without homes. It  offers them a temporary place to stay warm during the coldest months of the year.

Tigra-Lee Campbell, co-founder of Lloydminster and Vermilion for Equity Foundation (LVE), believes the mobile shelter is an important tool but is not being used to its full potential.

“Until we have a 24/7 shelter in place, the warming bus is really all we’ve got,” stated Campbell. “But it’s just not enough. There needs to be more support. We need something that’s available all the time, especially during these freezing temperatures.”

Her organization of around 40 volunteers has taken on the task of providing volunteers for the mobile warming shelter. She was able to give a little more context into the city’s solution.

“Basically, they came up with a basic framework and we have to somehow make it work,” said Campbell. It’s a 15-passenger van from Border City Connects.”Once you take out the seats for one guard and a couple of volunteers, the capacity drops quickly.”

The recent Point-in-Time says over 50 individuals are completely unhoused in our community, more than three times the capacity of the current solution. To counter this the van will have predetermined spots and predetermined routes. However, it will only come online when it’s -30 C or colder with the wind chill.

“With the 15 seats, we won’t have the capacity for people to be on the bus all night long so the goal is for the bus to do a route,” stated Campbell. “The shift is eight hours, so if we have four routes, we’re thinking about a couple hours each route.”

The city has provided a driver, a security guard and the van.

Tyler Lorenz, founder of Residents and Recovery is concerned the van isn’t being used enough. Additionally, he believes it’s not enough to solve the larger problem.

“I would give the city an F, without Tigra involved. I’d give it a D, now that Tigra’s involved. Maybe even a C+, she’s gonna make it work,” Lorenz said. “It’s our only solution. And without any solution, somebody’s gonna die. And somebody might die, even with this
solution.”

Lorenz said there’s a major issue with delays when it comes to helping people who are most in need. He also explained there is so much missing from this plan.

“When you’re chilled down to your bones you need coffee, you need hot chocolate, you need something, you need some food because you’ve got to give yourself some energy and there’s no consideration in this proposal for any of that,” stated Lorenz. “The city’s been quite, upfront that they’re not going to be accommodating for that kind of thing.”

He explained although the city has plenty of facilities with washrooms, it hasn’t provided any as options in this solution. Explaining the concerns in the summer about defecation in public and private areas continues in part because of this.

Lorenz notes the city could have avoided this, including the $100,000 budget, if it had supported the expansion of the men’s shelter. For now, they are doing what they can to help.

“We are working on solutions with Tigra, which may include allowing them to use our washroom facilities,” explained Lorenz.

Campbell pointed out the warming shelter isn’t available around the clock, which she believes is a huge problem. She stressed people need to be able to rely on it at any time.

“We’ve got a warming bus and it’s sitting in a lot,” Campbell said. “That bus needs to be in service. We need it more often, but it’s not ready yet. The city needs to make this a priority. It’s too cold, and people are suffering.”

Both Campbell and Lorenz say the city’s response to the homelessness crisis isn’t good enough, and they worry lives could be lost if things don’t improve.

Lorenz said he is aware of at least one close call, but the individual was rescued in time.

“The city wants to not have any issues and is going to do the bare minimum in order to perhaps mitigate any of those issues,” Lorenz said. “I don’t think they’re willing to do what needs to be done in order to make it succeed.”

Lorenz believes the city is failing to provide adequate support, leaving local organizations and volunteers to step in where the city falls short.

“We’re on borrowed time,” Lorenz said. “People are going to keep slipping through the cracks. The city’s solutions just aren’t cutting it.”

With temperatures dropping, there is growing concern over the safety of those living on the streets. Both advocates are calling for immediate action to improve the warming shelter services and for the city to take stronger steps in addressing homelessness.

Lorenz believes without more effort, lives will continue to be at risk.

When asked what her goal was in stepping up to operate the solution provided, Campbell hopes to accomplish the basics.

“Honestly, that no one dies. That is my main goal and my main outlook on this whole thing because when there wasn’t any warming shelter options in Lloyd, we had quite a few deaths of people from the elements,” she said noting they are all people.

Campbell admits it’s a low bar to set.

“How do we put the responsibility back on the city and wait for people to die and say, oh, you know, well, the city should have had more buy-in,” said Campbell. “How do we put a price on a life?”

Advocates hope to see change in the city’s response.

Read more: Lloydminster commits to mobile shelter