After a month of on and off cold weather, it seems subzero temperatures and heavy snowfall are here to stay. But with this winter weather comes a big problem for a part of London’s population. The homeless.
“We are certainly concerned about people who are unsheltered, being able to stay warm,” says Chuck Lazenby, an Executive Director over at the Unity Project.
Unity Project’s mission is “housing-outcome focused emergency shelter, supportive housing and in-home housing stability support programming,” for all individuals aged 18+.
“Folks are perhaps being kicked out of space where they’re sleeping unsheltered, having to move from space to space, and being able to access services that actually bring them in out of the cold.”
In recent months, over a dozen homeless people died on the streets of London. The cold weather that has arrived and seems to want to stay, will only make things more dangerous.
“The risks are that people could freeze to death. That’s a reality that we face when we are having winters this cold.”
So how is the Unity Project trying to help people get off the street?
Lazenby explained how the pandemic has changed their programming.
“Where we used to have drop in services, we’re now operating out of the hotel, where we can accommodate more people on a nightly basis. So we are have increased our occupancy on a nightly basis for the winter.”
Unity Project has increased capacity to serve individuals on a longer term, rather than drop in. All in all, they can support 65 people during the winter.
As for how people can help, it’s a tougher question.
“There’s two parts to it, I think there’s a response in the moment where they can reach out to community organizations to see what sort of cold weather supplies they might need, like toques, coats, gloves, and socks.”
Lazenby explained that while the immediate help is appreciated and will always be valued, without systemic change, homelessness is here to stay.
“We’re in a crisis in our community, we’re in a housing crisis, we’re in homelessness crisis, and we need people advocating for change that’s going to sustain itself over time.”
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