Snow and freezing temperatures in many parts of southern British Columbia will make an already dangerous situation even worse for those living on the street, prompting efforts to help Vancouver's homeless make it through the chilly night.
People employed by Vancouver's film industry offered a helping hand by providing food and warm clothes to those in need.
It's a gesture that was especially appreciated in advance of Saturday night's expected snow storm, because many homeless people will be left alone to face the brutal cold.
It's been less than two days since a 47-year-old woman, known as Tracey burned to death while trying to stay warm in downtown Vancouver. Like many people without homes, she had been offered shelter and refused.
City hopes to change attitudes
"You get stuff stolen from you and everything,'' said a man called Stewart, who has been living on the street for more then 10 yeas. He said he often chooses not to sleep in homeless shelters. "Like I lost two bags and I lost five tents, nine sleeping bags. Lost all my stuff," he said.
Judy Graves, of the City of Vancouver, is hoping to change attitudes like Stewart's by providing them with more emergency shelters, like the one she showed to a CTV reporter on Granville Street.
"It's going to be brutally cold outside [Saturday] and you know as soon as we walked in here we could feel the warmth and the comfort of the building and people are going to be pretty happy coming in here tonight," Graves said.
"It's going to be open, you can bring your shopping cart, you can bring your dog.... cool," she said.
While the shelter is ready, Graves and other homeless advocates know it will be an uphill battle to convince everyone to come in from the cold before it's too late.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Stephen Smart
