The number of men and women seeking shelter at Harvest House Atlantic since the beginning of April, has risen.
Founder Cal Maskery says they’ve seen an increase since the Out of the Cold Shelter closed on April 1st, “We were running around 12 to 20 people over the winter, and now we’re at 55.”
Maskery says they are serving more meals as well, “We are doing about 120 who are coming in to eat supper and breakfast.”
They’ve divided the shelter up, to accommodate those who are staying at the shelter, “People who want to go to bed go upstairs at around 9 or 9:30, and lights out is shortly after. Around half are going upstairs and then downstairs, there are people coming in who haven’t really settled yet, so they can stay awake until they are ready to go to sleep.”
Harvest House Atlantic received around 30 cots and lockers when the shelter on Assomption Boulevard closed. Maskery says they are putting them to good use.
He expects the numbers to climb even higher throughout the summer months.