‘There’s nowhere they can go:’ Cool-down locations open for vulnerable community

It’s a scorcher in Saskatoon and one group wants to remind residents to be mindful of all members of the community.

Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) has created a list of cool-down locations for those in the city’s vulnerable community.

In response to the extreme heat we’re facing, @SHIPartnership has created a list of ‘Cool Down’ locations across Saskatoon.

Take a look, #yxe ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/ed1whSWHrA

— Brady Lang (@BradyLangSK) June 3, 2021

“Some of them distribute water. Some of them have shelter as well as water,” explained SHIP’s communications co-ordinator, Andréa Ledding.

“For people who have air conditioning and people who have homes that they can cool, people who have cars they can turn on, it’s no big deal, right? It’s a temporary inconvenience. For people who have no reprieve from this shelter and they have literally no roof over their heads, it’s a really big deal — there’s nowhere they can go.”

The cool-down locations are much like the warmup locations in the winter months. They provide a space to cool down rather than to warm up.

When it comes to those who come across a member of the vulnerable community who is in distress — possibly caused by the heat wave — Ledding had a solution for that as well.

“The first thing we ask is for people to be mindful and have water with you to give out,” she said. “You can look out for others. If you see somebody in distress, ask them if they’re OK. Ask them if they need help.”

She added that if need be, call 9-1-1, police services or the mobile crisis unit.

Ledding coined the current conditions as “a Level 3a,” which means we’re over 32 C, and it will be warmer than 16 C overnight.

“Be aware: Not everybody has water and shelter. If you can provide that, that’s such a small thing maybe on your part; it may be, very well, life and death to someone else.”

You can find an active list of cool-down locations on SHIP’s website, or by clicking here.