Severe cold weather has brought about heightened concerns for vulnerable populations and plants alike, with cities like Vancouver stepping up efforts to provide shelter for the homeless, even as gardeners are cautioned about the threats to their prized plants.
Vancouver's initiative includes funding for warming centres intended to provide overnight shelter for those without homes. Temperatures are forecasted to dip to minus 2 degrees Celsius this Saturday and minus 3 degrees Sunday, with Environment Canada also warning of possible heavy snowfalls. The centres, which will only be open during night hours, have sparked debate among community organizations about their effectiveness. Amanda Burrows, executive director of First United, which supports the homeless, articulated the concern quite starkly: "What the city is offering doesn’t match the needs of the community." The rise of homelessness by 32 percent over the last three years, according to the latest count, has put immense pressure on such services. Of the reported 4,821 homeless individuals in Metro Vancouver, half are situated within the city limits.
Despite the city's efforts, Burrows highlights the inadequacies of these warming centres: "These are places where people can come in, bring their belongings, sit, drink coffee, or lay out a cot if they have one. But there are not beds they can sleep in." The city has expanded the overnight warming centres to eight locations across five neighbourhoods, after securing partnerships with community organizations. Bruk Melles, Vancouver's director of homelessness services, said, "We encourage folks to come in and stay warm, particularly because if this cold snap continues... it won’t just be cold at night but also during the day." Melles advised individuals to utilize indoor spaces like libraries and community centres as well during daytime. "People can come and go as they please, and at some facilities, depending on accessibility, you can bring your pets or your belongings right inside," he noted.
Yet, Burrows stands firm against this strategy, stating, "It’s as if the city would want an extra 500 people coming to the library rolling out their cots to lay down on." Her grievances also included the lack of effective communication about the centres during winter months, stating they are activated on short notice only when certain weather conditions are met.
These concerns have led to legal challenges against the city's policies. Recently filed in the British Columbia Supreme Court, the lawsuit by the B.C. Civil Liberties Association posits, among other claims, the city’s ban on daytime outdoor sheltering as “cruel, dehumanizing and deadly.” Brittany Littlejohn, one of the plaintiffs who once found temporary relief at CRAB Park, expressed her frustrations: "It’s just colder… harder," referring to her current living situation under the city’s new regulations.
Far across the Atlantic, gardeners are grappling with equally challenging cold weather conditions impacting tender plants. Gardening experts across the UK are urgently recommending checks on greenhouse temperatures to avoid plant fatalities, particularly as temperatures are predicted to drop below the 5 degrees Celsius threshold.
At this season when many focus on greenhouse planting, experts warn of the perils sudden temperature drops pose to young seedlings and tender plants. They stress the importance of taking immediate action to buffer these plants against icy conditions. Recommendations include sealing cracks and holes which could lead to heat loss and utilizing affordable insulation methods such as bubble wrap for windows and pots. The latter is particularly emphasized to help maintain the necessary warmth needed for plant survival.
For those grappling with severe cold snaps, heating mats or fan heaters are suggested, marking the importance of selective use to keep energy costs manageable. Responding to the geography of their greenhouses is also pivotal; placing them away from shaded areas is recommended to maximize exposure to natural sunlight, the best source of heat.
"It’s killing your houseplant," one gardening expert lamented, encapsulating the urgency of the matter. The proactive measures advised can help maintain the indispensable minimum temperatures necessary for the protection of vulnerable plants.
The reality of cold weather is indisputable as it continues to threaten not only the health of plants but, more critically, the wellbeing of vulnerable populations. The pressing need for adequate shelter for the homeless reflects the broader challenges of our times, underscoring the fragile nature of life—human and botanical—especially during horrid weather conditions.