Heatwave “magnifying” issues in Saskatoon’s vulnerable community: EGADZ

The heatwave across Saskatchewan is taking its toll on some of Saskatoon’s most vulnerable.

According to EGADZ Executive Director Don Meikle, the non-profit has faced challenges with the hot temperatures, on top of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“A lot of times this heat is just as bad, if not worse, than the cold,” he said Thursday.

“People get a lot more short-tempered. People get a lot more agitated, get a lot more demanding than they used to be.”

Meikle said it has put added stress on its outreach workers, especially when some in the population deal with addictions issues. He says those issues are “magnified” with the warm weather.

“Quite often, (they) don’t notice that they’re having a heat stroke until it’s already taking place,” he said.

EGADZ was able to open its centre, allowing some to visit to cool down and get some cold water.

Outreach workers, however, have had to make some “tough choices,” Meikle said.

“Do we keep feeding people at the rate we were, or do we have to scale the food back now? So we can get out on the street and help people that are out there that could be at high-risk,” he said.

“It’s been a real challenge for us. Since the pandemic started, we have been handing out food packs (and) taking meals to families every day.”

EGADZ is now looking for the public’s help. They are asking for both bottled water and G2 sports drink to keep their clients hydrated.

Meikle said they will “rejig” its food distribution and how they are handling that. At the same time, they are still here for those most vulnerable in the community.

“We are going to be out on the street a lot more, helping those people out there that might not have the ability to have access to cold water,” he said.

EGADZ is the drop-in Saskatoon Downtown Youth Centre, operating since 1990.