The Journal Pioneer sent me, Colin MacLean.
Late that night I visited the Summerside Police Services and asked where I could go for shelter for the night.
The officer on duty said such services were limited in Summerside, unlike Charlottetown, which has a small handful of shelters, but that in such situations officers usually contact Major Willis Drover at the Summerside Salvation Army Church for assistance.
Contacted Friday, Drover said it’s not unusual for him to get a call from city police or the East Prince RCMP looking for emergency housing for one or more people.
Often it’s a family with nowhere to go after a fire or some other disaster, but there are many reasons why a person could find themselves in need.
“I think sometimes when you speak about “homeless” you’re talking about people who live right on the street. Sometimes that happens (in Summerside) – but not a lot. Most of the ones we get are people who have some kind of dispute with family, girlfriend or whatever. It’s not a lot – but it does happen. The police got my cell number,” said Drover.
“There are things in place, sometimes it’s probably not enough, but you do what you can,” he added.
