The new year brings the coldest of winter's weather and is a stressful time for people without homes and those trying to provide them with shelter.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused some challenges for service providers, but those working to help homeless individuals believe that Newmarket will get people through the winter. But getting there has not been easy.
"Nothing surprises me anymore after this season," said Ann Watson, executive director of Inn From the Cold.
"I feel as though we have all been in this long enough that 'the new normal' has become normal. And I think we have become pretty comfortable with it. We just had to roll with it, and it has definitely impacted the way we operate."
Inn From the Cold had to reduce the number of beds at the shelter from 36 to 25 to accommodate the necessary physical distancing measures for clients and staff. Clients were permitted to stay during the day, as well.
"Having 25 people has been much more manageable, and — knock on wood — we haven't had anyone test positive for COVID-19 since we opened," said Watson.
Some of the shelter's initiatives, such as the Getting Ahead program, had to be limited to people currently at the shelter. However, the plan before the pandemic had been to open it up to people outside the facility, as well.
But the pandemic hasn't stopped new programs from being started. This fall, the shelter created its Inn Team, which is a business where people who have struggled with homelessness work odd jobs, usually physical labour, for clients around Newmarket. The workers are paid for their time, and about 20 people have taken part so far.
"Sometimes, the income is what makes the difference between being able to pay rent and not. This gives them purpose, helps them develop new skills, and rediscover old skills. There are a lot of very skilled people out there; they just haven't been using them," said Watson.
"We have seen many people move on to full-time employment so far. They discover that they are a good worker and take that next step. It's been a great project."
Michael Braithwaite, CEO of Blue Door, said despite the need to scale back beds, a lot of work has been done to ensure there is enough shelter space in town for people to get out of the cold.
"The housing piece is fairly well in hand, thanks due to a large number of people who have worked very hard to make it so. I still think we need to keep working on is the support services piece."
Braithwaite credits the efforts by municipal and regional governments, as well as frontline medical and public health workers, for helping to keep the number of clients that end up being referred to shelter programs to a manageable level this winter.
"We haven't been overrun because of their due diligence. Mayor John Taylor and the region have been open to listening and are willing to do their part. If they continue to listen and be open, what more can we ask for?" he said.
Rev. Ross Carson said the community has stepped up this year because of the pandemic. Because of the efforts of Concerned Citizens for the Homeless in Newmarket, a group that Carson leads, and others like it, as well as funding from organizations such as the United Way, there is now one free meal available in Newmarket every day of the week.
But he thinks more could be done, such as a day shelter.
"If we could open up something with laundry facilities, internet, television and warmth, that could be a new day program. Who would be against that?" he asked. "We are keen to have a day shelter to provide more access out of the cold because there are not enough places for people to go. There have been discussions with the town about this."
All three advocates point to York Region's decision last May to use the Kingbridge Conference Centre as a transitional housing facility, where homeless individuals can be housed in isolation for two weeks, as vital for ensuring everyone has a chance to get off the streets this winter.
"Because we all had to reduce beds, that transitional shelter at Kingsbridge that the Salvation Army is operating has been crucial and instrumental. They recently upped their bed count from 50 to 80, and that has meant we haven't had to turn people away without a place to go. It's underpinning the whole system at this point," Watson said.
The Kingsbridge shelter is not without its flaws, however.
People who have stayed at the shelter, including local homelessness advocate Andrew Gould, have noted that staying at the Salvation Army-run facility can be frustrating at times because of the required isolation in a private room and the two-week limitation on stays there.
Blue Door is in the midst of a collective group campaign, called 200 Doors, urging local landlords to rent apartments to people struggling with homelessness.