Here Are Some Resources To Help Homeless People In Montreal During The Extreme Cold This Week
This morning Environment Canada released an urgent warning across the country that the "polar vortex" will cause temperatures to plunge drastically today from central Saskatchewan to eastern Quebec.
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TL;DR Temperatures across Canada are expected to make a plunge due to the "polar vortex." Below is a list of homeless shelters in Montreal you can refer to if helping someone in need of accomodations tonight.
With overnight temperatures reaching wind chill values of -50 celsius in parts of the country, it has officially been deemed too cold for you to be outside overnight. Within minutes outside hypothermia and frostbite can set in.
With wind chill values this rare, it is of upmost importance that unless entirely necessary, you should remain indoors overnight.
Unfortunately, that always possible for homeless people in major cities. Even with homeless shelters in full winter protocol at the moment, those who are unable to access recouces to ensure a safe place to sleep tonight will be at severe risk.
Luckily, Montrealers do have the opportunity to help the homeless on one of the coldest nights in the city. Below are the locations of services and shelters across the city that will welcome those in need of safety from the polar vortex or warm accomodations:
Verdun
- South West United Church and Mission (Open from 9AM to 2PM Mon-Fri)
- Saint Willi-Broard Mission (Offers meals Mon, Wed, Fri from 10AM to Noon)
Westmount
- YMCA Residence (Open 24/7)
Ville-Marie
- Welcome Hall Mission – Emergency Shelter for Men (Open 24/7)
- Herstreet Shelter for Women (Open 10:30AM to 4PM)
- Old Brewery Mission Shelter for Men (Open 24/7)
- St. Michael's Mission (Warming centre open from 9PM to 6AM)
- Maison du Père Shelter for Men (Open 5PM to 7:30AM)
- Auberge du Coeur Le Tournant Shelter for Men Ages 18 to 29 (Open 24/7)
- Refuge des Jeunes de Montréal for Men (Open 6PM to Midnight)
Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
- Regroupment des Organismes du Montréal Ethnique Pour le Logement (Open 1PM to 5PM)
- Résidence Maria-Goretti Shelter for Women (Open 7AM to 11PM)
Ahuntsic-Cartierville
- Community Services for Refugees and Migrants (Mon-Fri 9AM to Noon and 1PM to 5PM
Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
- Église du Roi des Rois (Open 24/7 when temperatures exceed -18C)
- Carrefour D'Alimentation et de Partage Saint-Barnabé Refuge D'Hochelaga (Open Mon-Sat 9:30PM to 7:30AM)
With frostbite taking under 30 minutes to set in when wind chill is below -28C, homeless people in Montreal are in extreme need of finding shelter overnight.
If you see someone suffering in the extreme cold or in distress, you can also call 9-1-1.
For more resouces and information, you can visit 211 Grand Montreal HERE.
Stay safe, Montreal!
