As temperatures plummet, city's homeless ponder how they'll spend Christmas

For some of the city’s homeless, it might be their only Christmas meal — pizza with some sugary trimmings on the side.

On Monday afternoon, dozens gathered at Journey Church in Calgary’s far northwest for a repast that ended with cookies, pudding and a gift bag offered from beneath a festive tree.

“It’s very kind of them — I don’t see too many other people helping,” said Curtis Redman, 32, who spends nights at the Mustard Seed.

Christmas Day for him, he said, is just another day — one that “used to be something special when I had family to spend it with.”

The church in Rocky Ridge, which is one of a few year-round warming centres in the city, often sees its regular day space full of people seeking an escape from bitterly cold temperatures and what they say can be a dangerous environment downtown.

“It’s overwhelming — I’ve never seen it this busy,” said Redman.

Another man, Duncan, said he fends off the cold at night in a fort he’s built under a tree somewhere in Calgary, adding he’s grateful for the pizza and treats dished out by church volunteers.

“People say they have Christmas memories but I’ve got none worth mentioning,” said Duncan, who chose not to give his last name.

“This is what it’s all about, making normal connections and being understanding, but it should be practised all the time.”

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Youth pastor Logan Johnson said it’s no secret the holidays aren’t a joyous time for many in the city, particularly its most vulnerable and those without shelter.

“Someone has to love these people and we need to make sure our faith is in action,” he said.

The youth volunteers serving the food also benefit by being closer to the homeless “to get to (hear) their stories, their histories.”

‘As it gets closer to the holidays, people want to commune’

A few days earlier, members of the city’s vulnerable population packed the church’s lobby, one drenched in sunlight pouring through its expansive windows.

But despite Christmas’s approach, there was little of a sunny, festive spirit to be found among those nonetheless grateful for the warm refuge and food provided.

Austin Howell recalled becoming homeless a year ago after losing a grocery store job while suffering a falling-out with family.

“It kind of all snowballed and I didn’t catch up financially,” said Howell, clad in a flannel jacket and Calgary Flames sweatpants.

As for Christmas Day, “If I don’t find my family to take me in, I’ll go to the movie theatres as a way to keep myself positive and in good spirits.”

It’s a plan the 31-year-old said dovetails with his expectation to head to college next fall to study filmmaking, a dream he’s now saving up money to realize.

The holidays, he said, can still be an uplifting time, “but sometimes I can get down-and-out — my dad died at Christmas in 2016; he had substance abuse issues.”

Those with little and nowhere to go, said Howell, see the season as a social one just like anyone else.

“As it gets closer to the holidays, people want to commune, have that sense of togetherness,” he said.

And for people like him, Calgary is a better place for that, said Howell, who’s spent the past year travelling around the province.

“Calgary’s the best in winter time; there’s more places to stay warm and they’re really inclusive and welcoming,” he said.

But he admitted finding a warm place to sleep isn’t easy. His attempts to “sneak” sleep on CTrains or in fast food restaurants rarely last long.

Christmas ‘just another day’

At a nearby table, David Smith greets the mention of Christmas with an indifferent look.

“It’s just another day, even though I have kids,” said Smith.

He likely won’t see those kids, though he’ll see if a son wants to spend time with him that day.

Otherwise, Smith, 60, said he’ll rise from his propane-heated encampment in a back alley in the southwest Braeside area and head to Christmas church service and then a park.

He keeps secret his digs, which a homeowner agreed to allow in the residential area, to ensure his possessions aren’t stolen.

“There’s only two people who I know where I live — me and God,” he said.

A nice Christmas present for the city’s homeless would be homes in some of the vacant downtown office buildings and for him, a gift card to purchase hygiene products, said Smith.

He doesn’t need much for his improvised home, he said.

“I’ve got a good sleeping bag,” said Smith.

Seated next to him is Bradley Benjamin, who said he lives in a tent in a treed area along the Glenmore Reservoir and doesn’t think much of how most people honour the religious underpinnings of Christmas.

To him, it’s not a very joyous time, that “the world’s all fake, it’s all B.S.”

“I’m in the world but I’m not of it — I live in the bush.”

Nonetheless, he’s hoping to mark the occasion by going to Lethbridge with his girlfriend to see family and has a preference for a stocking stuffer.

“I’d like to get my birth certificate back,” said a chuckling Benjamin, 38.

‘It’s not what’s under the tree, it’s who’s around it’

Eating a hot dog nearby was Calvin Slaunwhite, a bearded man clad in layers topped by a long black winter coat.

Christmas to him “means being closest to the ones who are closest to you,” he said, adding he hopes to travel to Red Deer to be with his son.

“It’s not what’s under the tree, it’s who’s around it, but I haven’t found the financial means (to get to Red Deer).”

Most of his family is well beyond reach, in Nova Scotia, said Slaunwhite, who sees Christmas as a time to celebrate Christ’s birth, no matter how difficult things may be for him.

Beyond that and into the new year, the man said he’s hoping to hold true to a decision to stop using crystal meth, a drug he said he last used just four days before.

“I was in detox four times in 2024 . . . I choose not to do drugs now,” said Slaunwhite, who’s housesitting temporarily before living back out on the street.

“I’m going to be better, healthier and more knowledgeable next year.”

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

X: @BillKaufmannjrn