Wetaskiwin encampment to get temporary warming shelters amid demands for permanent housing – Edmonton

It’s solely a matter of time earlier than winter climate units in at a Wetaskiwin encampment.

“It’s tough. Out right here, there aren’t any bushes, no nothing that we might naked off of,” mentioned Tammy Rowan, who resides on the camp.

For a number of months, Rowan and a couple of dozen others have been residing behind a giant field retailer.

Whereas residing situations have been tough, it’s what’s coming that almost all worry.

“I’m scared to lose limbs too as a result of that’s how we lose them is the freezing,” Rowan mentioned.

With time working out, the Metropolis of Wetaskiwin has been busy engaged on short-term lodging for the winter months beginning close to the tip of November.

Mayor Tyler Gandam mentioned a $150,000 federal grant plus $35,000 from the town and potential help from the province will fund short-term shelter providers on the web site, which is owned by the town.

“The answer for the winter is to arrange warming shelters. We want a heat place for folks to sleep, and that’s been our precedence,” Gandam mentioned.

The short-term trailers will not be supposed for daytime use and might be in service till March.

Gandam mentioned the town wished a everlasting answer in place nevertheless it wasn’t potential.

“The town doesn’t have the flexibility to supply shelter or that 24-hour care like large cities do. We simply don’t have that,” Gandam mentioned.

“Warming items are Band-Support options. These are all simply Band-Support options to a deeper societal difficulty of not with the ability to assist people who find themselves susceptible,” Hate to Hope Present of Heat founder Chevi Rabbitt mentioned.

To assist, advocates held a clothes drive this weekend, gathering jackets, blankets, meals and hygiene provides.

“We’ve been in a position to present the reward of heat via a jacket, however that’s not sufficient. There are extra helps,” Rabbitt mentioned.

Rabbitt mentioned folks want everlasting, transitional housing and wrap-around providers.

“Individuals might lose their fingers to the chilly. They will die from frostbite. As quickly as winter comes, actually, persons are going to be freezing on the market in a discipline,” Rabbitt mentioned.

It’s a actuality these residing on the camp are all too conscious of.

“That is all we obtained to outlive in the event that they don’t give us any extra,” Rowan mentioned.