‘State of Emergency’: Eight frontline agencies call on council for overnight warming centres for homeless Londoners

With homeless Londoners sleeping on the ground in a cold weather alert, these service providers say city hall is not doing enough. CTV’s Daryl Newcombe reports.

An open letter to London City Council from eight frontline agencies implores council to open a warming centre for the over 320 Londoners currently living outdoors as temperatures have plummeted.

“Over the past week the temperatures have dropped considerably, and our teams are beyond devastated at the trauma they’ve been navigating consistently,” the letter reads.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) has issued a Cold Weather Alert because temperatures were forecast to drop to -19 C on Monday night.

The letter describes a horrific discovery made by outreach workers who attended an encampment on Monday:

Our outreach team arrived on scene to find an individual with significant frostbite to his lower limbs. This individual was stuck underneath a tent that had collapsed on top of them. Their feet were completely frozen. Our outreach team ensured that this individual remained calm while contacting emergency services for further assessment and support. This individual attended hospital and remains in hospital undergoing medical care.

Locations where the unhoused can get warm in community centres and libraries close at night, so outreach workers have only been able to offer a blanket and supportive listening until services reopen in the morning.

“This is a state of emergency and we cannot do this alone,” the agencies told council.

They suggest two potential solutions that council could immediately take:

1. The city opens indoor warming centres overnight with security and supports
2. The city sets up heavy insulated tents in a fenced area with security including a trailer with washrooms and supports, as well as a common tent with a heat source.

Either option would need to have a low-barrier approach to supporting individuals with complex needs.

The open letter concludes by acknowledging that the options are not long-term solutions, but essential to keeping people warm and safe in the wintery weather.

“We need your help urgently,” they said.

The letter was sent to politicians as they were preparing to enter Tuesday’s council meeting.

The letter is signed by:

• Chris Moss, Executive Director, London Cares Homeless Response Services
• Sarah Campbell, Executive Director The Ark Aid Mission
• Chuck Lazenby, Executive Director Unity Project
• Mike McMahon Executive Director, Thames Valley Family Health Team
• Scott Courtice, Executive Director, London Intercommunity Health Centre
• Martin MacIntosh, Executive Director, Regional HIV/Aids Connection
• Pam Tobin, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association
• Allison DeBlaire, Executive Director, 519 Pursuit