New tuques, gloves critically needed as homeless battle deadly cold in Fort St. John, outreach worker says

Lisa Jewell is afraid.

As an outreach worker for the Fort St. John Women's Resource Society, Jewell says she has built strong relationships with people experiencing homelessness in the area and she knows right now their lives are under attack from two faceless enemies — a deadly virus and the deadly cold.

Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold weather alert for northern B.C., where temperatures with the wind chill have been below –40 C this week. Jewell is also alerting Fort St. John locals that donations of new gloves, tuques and socks are critically needed for people sleeping outside under such conditions.

"We are northerners, we protect our own," said Jewell, speaking Tuesday to Carolina de Ryk, the host of CBC's Daybreak North.

Used clothing is currently not being accepted because of COVID-19 concerns.

'The devil you know'

Jewell said the cold is nothing new, but the virus means people who, in past winters, had access to fast food restaurants, churches or other indoor spaces where they can warm up, no longer do.

According to Jewell, the city has only one shelter and even if space is available, some people are choosing to brave the outdoors rather than risk contracting the virus indoors.

"People are actually choosing to go build a little lean-to and try to be by themselves rather than going into the shelter," she said. "The cold is the devil you know."

Jewell said staff at the resource society, located at 10051 100 Ave., have set up a hot beverage and hand warming station outside the building as indoor access is restricted because of COVID. 

 "We are dressing people up as they walk by," she said, also noting the need for hats and gloves.

Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin under such frigid conditions.

Deadly cold

About 60 kilometres south, in Dawson Creek, B.C., local RCMP say a woman was found dead outside her home early Sunday morning having succumbed to the cold after walking home from a neighbour's house. 

Temperatures had dropped below –41 C in Dawson Creek Sunday. According to Environment Canada, Tuesday temperatures felt like –43 C  with the wind chill.

"There are definitely still people sleeping outside," said Jewell. "I'm scared."

She said more supportive housing is a possible long-term solution but that is in the "easier said than done category" and right now, protecting people from frostbite, or worse, is her primary focus.

And she is hoping others rally to help too.

"Please donate to your favourite organization ... those people are going to know who needs it the most," she said.

Donations of new tuques, gloves and socks can be made to the Fort St. John Women's Resource Society on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays.

Doors are locked because of the virus so donors are asked to call 250-787-1121 or knock when they arrive.