Support offered by Windsor as snow, cold approach

The city of Windsor has announced options for at-risk people with the temperature set to fall throughout the weekend.

With a significant snowfall in the forecast for Thursday night and Friday morning, and wind chill readings dropping to around -18C on Friday and Saturday nights, several places offering refuge from the cold will be open.

There is no extreme cold alert at the moment, but the city said precipitation and low temperatures over a sustained period of time may pose serious health threats for those who are homeless or otherwise vulnerable. Infants, young children, those with heart or respiratory problems, and those who work outside also fall into this category.

Those who need a warm place to go can look into the following options.

• The Downtown Mission - Daytime programs include meals and a resting place for men, women, and families at 664 Victoria Avenue. Nighttime shelter for men, women and families is offered from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. at 875 Ouellette Avenue. The phone number is (519) 973-5573.
• The Welcome Centre Shelter for Women - 24-hour emergency shelter services are provided for single women and families at 263 Bridge Avenue. The phone number is (519) 971-7595.
• The Salvation Army - 24-hour emergency shelter services for single men at 355 Church Street. The phone number is (519) 253-7474.
• The Homelessness & Housing Help Hub (H4) - Services for single men and women experiencing homelessness are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week at the Windsor Water World building, 400 Wyandotte Street East. The phone number is (519) 253-3806.

COVID-19 control precautions remain in place as Ontario remains under lockdown protocol, which means there may be limited capacity. Mandatory mask use and aggressive cleaning and sanitation policies are in place.

Windsor-Essex residents who are having trouble keeping up with heating bills can register with the Unemployed Help Centre's Keep the Heat initiative. The Housing Stability Plan can provide help with rental arrears or first-and-last-month's rent to obtain affordable housing, at (519) 255-5200 ext. 5294.

People looking for options can also call the 211 helpline, 24 hours a day.

The city also reminds people to watch out for those who may have had prolonged exposure to the cold, which can lead to hypothermia and frostbite. These are serious medical emergencies. If you are worried about yourself or someone who may be living outdoors and experiencing these symptoms, call 911.