MONTREAL - For most Montrealers, a cold night means tossing on an extra-thick blanket.
The homeless, however, are forced to scramble for a spot in one of the city's shelters, which tend to fill up fast in the winter.
Montreal's homeless shelters have been vigilant in making sure that nobody is forced outside in the bitterly cold and potentially fatal weather that has hit the city this weekend.
The mercury is expected to descend to as low as minus 29 with the windchill factor Saturday night, with similar climes expected for Sunday.
For most, the idea of trying to snooze outdoors in the bitter cold is unfathomable. But Danny Anctil, a Montrealer who has been homeless for five years, told CTV Montreal that he has done just that.
"I didn't even believe people were sleeping outside in the cold," he said. "But I did it and believe me if you try it at minus 20 outside in a sleeping bag. I'm not sure you would appreciate it."
Anctil will be snuggling up tonight at the Maison du Pere where those bunking over enjoyed a Valentine's Day event organized by the Face-a-Face listening centre Saturday.
The Face-a-Face brass, as well as others in the homeless services network, have been carefully monitoring the fate of the homeless during the coldest winter days.
But they are fully aware that it's only a sliver of the larger problem the homeless face.
"We're very concerned about the homeless population when the weather gets cold," said Face-a-Face Executive Director Grace Fontes. "However the problem of homelessness or the issue of homelessness is one that's year long."
