Regina snowstorm nearly doubles service at Carmichael Outreach

As Regina deals with the effects of this week’s snowstorm, some of the city’s most vulnerable are looking for ways to stay safe and warm.

Chrysta Garner, development coordinator of Carmichael Outreach, said it saw almost twice as many people come through its doors on Tuesday as it normally did.

Carmichael Outreach is a non-profit service that provides help to people dealing with homelessness and poverty.

“Carmichael is an open door to anybody that has a need,” Garner said on Tuesday.

“So for example, if they are seeking something to eat, we can provide food security. If they need housing supports, we do that as well and we have some other services.”

Crystal Garner with Carmichael Outreach says up to 400 people walk through its doors every day. July 18, 2024. (Nicole Garn/980 CJME)

Garner said many people arriving weren’t just looking for a warm place to be, but also items like gloves, toques, scarves, footwear and jackets.

She said people often seek those items regularly.

“The staff meet that person with empathy and compassion, and that’s something that we value ourselves on,” she said. “We always try to do our best to equip the person the best that we can.”

However, Garner said it’s frustrating not being able to meet everyone’s needs.

“Sometimes it gets overwhelming with supplying those items to people just because we might not have the proper size,” she said.

“Let’s say they come in for gloves and all we have are like those really thin gloves and it’s really cold, or we don’t have headwear that would fit properly. We try to do our best, but sometimes we just don’t have the item.”

Carmichael operates a warming centre at 1510 12th Ave from 7:15 p.m. to 6:45 a.m. seven days a week.

Queen City Wellness Pharmacy is a community pharmacy that provides service for people seeking housing, health care and food security.

“Most people walking in the door are just some looking for somewhere to be safe, somewhere they can have a cup of coffee and something to fill their stomachs,” said Sarah Kozusko, store operator at Queen City Wellness.

Like Carmichael, Kozusko said many people who go to Queen City Wellness seek items like mitts, socks and jackets.

Kozusko and Garner said more funding would allow the organizations to better serve people’s needs.

Kozusko also said there needs to be more widespread structural support to reduce homelessness.

“We need more wraparound care. We need more supportive housing and supportive shelters that help people day-to-day,” Kozusko said.

She also advocated for more harm-reduction programs.

Kozusko said Queen City Wellness takes some donations but won’t be taking as much this year due to both a lack of storage space and partnerships with other organizations.

She instead urged people to donate any materials they can provide to organizations like Carmichael and the YWCA.

Although grants and monetary donations are the most ideal types of support Carmichael could receive, Garner said the non-profit greatly appreciates physical donations of items like bowls and winter gear.

City of Regina strategy

The City of Regina said on Wednesday that addressing homelessness is a shared responsibility of all levels of government.

“The City of Regina works collectively alongside the Federal Government, the Provincial Government, and a range of community-based organizations that support individuals experiencing houselessness,” the city said in an emailed statement.

“City administration continues to prioritize a range of approaches to address houselessness, not only through direct funding to support housing, such as through our partnership with RTSIS and Silver Sage Housing on the Permanent Supportive Housing Operating Grant, but also through upstream investments such as early prevention and intervention programs/initiatives that are most supported through the Community Investment Grant Program.”

In partnership with the provincial government, the city is providing $400,000 to enable Carmichael to extend its warming space overnight.

“As a long-standing partner of the City, Carmichael Outreach has become a critical hub for support services in the Heritage Community, successfully operating an overnight warming space, while All Nations Hope continues to offer vital support through their Awasiw space in the North Central Community,” the statement read.