SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
There's only so many places a street person in Yellowknife can lay their heads on a given night, but as temperatures drop this season, so do their options.

Stacey Van Metre, community services shelter coordinator with the Salvation Army in Yellowknife, lays out sleeping mats in the men's shelter. She says the numbers of those seeking respite from the cold are up this year. - Daniel Campbell/NNSL photo

Yellowknife's Salvation Army accepts men seeking a bed for the night. Stacey Van Metre, community services shelter coordinator, said they have space for about 50 people on floor mats -- and they've been filling each one lately.

"We'd be full -- full on a night like tonight," Van Metre said, as temperatures dropped to -40 C for the first time this season.

"It's been busy, numbers are way up."

When the shelter runs out of space for the night, they try their best to give those left outside options, Van Metre said.

The men are allowed to come inside the foyer, where they'll be allowed to warm up for a short time. Van Metre said they'll eventually call the RCMP to take the extras to the drunk tank -- they try not to let them go back outside on their own at night.

"It was the worst part of the job," said Van Metre, who used to work the shelter door.

"It's unfortunate, because they're not committing any crime."

Van Metre said sometimes RCMP cells are the best option for someone to safely spend a night.

Lydia Bardak, executive director of the John Howard Society in Yellowknife, said RCMP often provide shelter to people, day and night.

"If somebody is out there and deemed unable to take care of themselves because of intoxication, the RCMP will take them in," Bardak said.

"You can't just leave them out there to freeze."

Yellowknife's day shelter, run by the John Howard Society, steadily sees about 60 people per day, no matter the season -- though in the winter people tend to stay for longer periods of time, Bardak said.

"There's a lot more crib games going, a lot more scrabble, a lot of books for reading," Bardak said.

The day shelter allows anyone to come inside and warm up, Bardak said.

Often people trying to find warmth this time of year will show up in public spaces like the downtown library, Bardak added. Although the day shelter accepts intoxicated people, drinking is not allowed inside, Bardak said.

"Book shelves make natural little hiding shelves for people," Bardak said.

Dennis Marchiori, director of public safety with the city, said bylaw officers will start patrolling the city library.

"It'll be a full-time parking enforcement officer, spending two hours a day at random times in the library."

Marchiori said the officer will help library staff with intoxicated people. Since they can't dedicate a full-time officer to patrol public spaces like the library, Marchiori said the officer will still focus on parking enforcement while helping at the library.

But Bardak said ordinary citizens can help people in need as well.

"Ordinary citizens often feel unsure or uncomfortable, but if you see someone in distress, go ahead and make a call, if that means calling the police that's fine, but you can also call the shelters," she said.

"Tell them they can come down to the day shelter and they'll be welcome there."

Though the Salvation Army doesn't always have room for everyone at night, Van Metre said they're looking at making improvements to the shelter that may help. Bunk-beds were recently purchased using money donated by the late Charlie Delorme and money raised through selling clothing.

Van Metre added the Salvation Army is looking at raising $40,000 to renovate the shelter. Capt. Ruth Gillingham is organizing a "coldest night of the year" 5 kilometre run/walk on Feb. 22 to raise the funds.