In response to concerns raised about people being left outside when they can’t or won’t obtain funding to stay at a shelter, are banned from a shelter, or prefer to live off the grid, The Lighthouse has opened it’s Out of the Cold Shelter.

The Out of the Cold Shelter is open to

• men
• women
• couples
• youth (16 and older – for those younger there is a separate system that is equipped to help them)

The OTCS will have its own space for unique situations but most people will be housed in a variety of other shelter spaces at The Lighthouse.

At present The Lighthouse houses in emergency shelters both men and women.

Support is provided by well trained staff during the night which are there to provide emergency services, housing supports, and make sure the resident has the essentials like hygiene products, warm clothing, and nutritious food.

The next morning support staff work with the resident to figure out their housing options so that no one will have to spent another night in the cold.

An important part of what we do is provide safe transportation from where they are at to where they need to be. People reach out to us from all the city and as the city grows and the weather drops, those distances are further and further away. In extreme temperatures the danger is that people won’t come in because of the distance needed to travel. To overcome this The Lighthouse is working with churches, agencies, and others to pick up people when needed and transport themselves, their belongings and any others that are with them to safety.

If you have any questions about the Out of the Cold Shelter, please contact Chris Powell at The Lighthouse or at chris.powell@lighthousesaskatoon.org.