With the colder temperatures expected to lift somewhat over the next couple of days, this will also lift a bit of the stress off shelters around the city.
That includes the Humanity Project on St. George Boulevard.
Founder of What Kids Need Moncton Amanda Pooley, which shares a space in the building, says they’ve been staying open to accommodate those who needed a place to go, “We’ve had about an average of 20 people staying in the centre when we have been able to be open overnight. It is difficult for us, especially having so many cold days in a row. We need to have enough volunteers to be able to cover that shift.”
Staying open overnight, wasn’t in the plans when they first moved into the building just months ago.
“We did expect there would be some weather conditions that would make us to be open some nights, as a warming centre more than anything,. We do have some of the foldaway cots, and we can bring them out and set them up so people have a warm place to sleep, ” Pooley says.
Pooley says if there is a bad storm or if the temperatures dip back down, they’ll never leave anyone out in the cold.
“At this point, it is just a day to day decision, but if we have enough volunteers, we can keep the shelter open, if there are those who need it.”
