The province was plunged into a deep freeze over the weekend, and those frigid temperatures exacerbated the strain being felt on the homeless population.

Temperatures over the weekend for the island dipped into the minus 30s, and the minus 40s in Labrador.

Doug Pawson, Executive Director of End Homelessness St. John’s says what makes the cold temperatures concerning for him is that many shelters are either at, or over capacity.

Pawson notes that Newfoundland and Labrador Housing has been using their discretion in getting people temporary accommodations, but the lack of shelter space can result in people going to other extremes.

He says sometimes people will sleep in the lobbies of buildings, break into cars, try to get picked up by police, and sleep in emergency rooms.