As the dangerous air conditions from Canadian wildfire smoke continue over the Erie area, the impact of the haze is putting the city’s homeless population at even greater risk. But a local shelter is opening its doors as a safe haven.
The harsh air conditions continue, making it dangerous for everyone. People are being urged to limit outdoor activities. The smoke is especially hazardous for anyone with heart or lung issues, and forecasters say only slow improvement is expected through Friday.
But for people without a home — who spend hours outside every day — that warning hits even harder.
“A lot of our folks are out in the heat, plus with the smell, so let’s just open up our chapel.” Brian Johansson, the CEO and President of the Erie City Mission shares.
At the Erie City Mission, staff say they could smell the smoke the moment they stepped outside this week. Thick haze, a burning odor, and dangerous air quality pushed them to open their chapel, giving people a place to escape the unhealthy air.
“Most of us have an option to go home or go into our office. A lot of the folks we serve really don’t have a place to go, so to open up our facility for extra hours and allow people a place to come in…” Johansson said.
Inside, people are offered a clean bed, fresh food, and a chance to breathe cleaner air.
The mission’s outreach team — which normally visits outdoor camps — stayed on site today, helping anyone who walked through the door.
Staff at the mission say they’re used to making quick changes when the weather turns dangerous, and they’ll always put people’s needs first. The shelter says they do this during any emergency — whether it’s extreme cold, dangerous heat, or now, wildfire smoke.
Their goal is simple: make sure the people who have nowhere else to go still have somewhere safe to breathe.
If you are in need of shelter services, you can call The Erie City Mission at 814-452-4421
Their address is: 1017 French Street