As the winter months roll in, those living unsheltered are faced with the yearly task of trying to brave the harsh conditions.
Advocates are calling on all levels of government to implement strategies that will result in tangible changes.
"With our collective failure to provide adequate alternate options for our neighbours living outdoors we cannot continue to justify taking any other approach but one assuring that the human rights of these people in crisis are respected, acted upon and met," said local advocate Regan Brusse.
"There are people outside facing the incoming colder Canadian climate and the imminent potential harm it risks, for lack of alternative."
Brusse adds that recent encampment evictions undermines people's best efforts to survive and complicates assuring aid that could be offered easily by local supports.
"It's past time to enact emergency level responses," she said.
The lack of shelter capacity is also concerning for advocates who fear this could be a life of death situation for those living outside. From the dangers of living in below freezing temperatures to the hazards of unconventional heating sources, like propane tanks, there are many reasons why living outside is dangerous.
"We do not currently have the shelter capacity to manage the scale of need locally and must deeply consider the pending catastrophic impacts of this deficit on those who remain with no alternative to living outdoors," said Brusse.
Local shelters like The Bridges in downtown Galt are able to open up more spaces in the winter times to accommodate the increase in those looking to get out of the cold and into a warm bed.
"We can fit around 130 people between here and our overflow spaces," said Bridges executive director, Wayne Paddick in a previous interview with CambridgeToday. "We try to do our best to offer some spaces, but there are a lot of reasons why some might choose to stay outside."
Factors like bad behaviour and substance use are some of the things that could keep The Bridges from accepting someone for the night, but Paddick also notes that some would rather stay in their tents with their belongings.
The Region of Waterloo has warming centres at their buildings to allow people to get out of the cold and into somewhere warm. They have also handed out 150 warming kits to individuals living outdoors.
To add to their work helping the unsheltered population, the Region of Waterloo is currently seeking over $30 million for the first step in their Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. This would help the over 550 documented people living outdoors.
Assistant director for housing operations and administration at the Region of Waterloo, Kelly-Anne Salerno, adds this documented number doesn't reflect the true data of those living rough.
"We know that it's not accurate, we know that there's potentially maybe 10 or 20 per cent over that number living unsheltered that don't identify themselves for a multitude of reasons," she said.
The region has been working in tandem with advocacy groups and those who have lived experiences to shape their new plan to end chronic homelessness and figure out how to best help individuals, especially in the winter.
Salerno estimates that those experiencing chronic homelessness increases by 20 per cent every year and if something is not done now, we will be past a point of no return.
This plan will look at alternate shelter ideas that will offer a safe, warm space in the winter as well as services and supportive housing.
At a regional council meeting on Nov. 29, Sara Escobar, homelessness and housed justice worker from Community Justice Initiatives spoke to the importance of the region stepping up and doing what they can now to save lives this winter.
Escobar provided an example of these alternative shelter ideas such as sandbag homes that are fire resistant and insulating.
"This is an idea the came directly from one of our community members, they have the supplies and they are ready to move," said Escobar at the meeting.
Salerno said the region is open to listening to those with lived experience and take in ideas to help build new shelters.
"The opportunity is now and I think we have to be creative and innovative, to get people warm and off the street where we can," she added.
"From the plan to end chronic homelessness and just as a senior leadership in housing, we are listening to those with lived experiences to work with us in collaboration to come up with some non-traditional methods."
Regional council will vote this week to add the current plan to end chronic homelessness into the 2024 budget, something that Salerno said would give them hope for when they come back in the spring to present the rest of their report.
"I'm proud that regional council is looking at the recommendations and taking their time to make these decisions. I'm hoping that on Wednesday, we get support we need," she added.
"I think council has everybody's best interest in heart so hopefully, we can make some strides on this problem that seems to just be getting worse."
