Lighthouse shelter faces heating 'crisis' during extreme cold snap in Saskatoon

As some of Saskatoon's most vulnerable people seek shelter from the extreme cold, the Lighthouse shelter says ithas been facinga heating crisis.

Two of the building's five old boilers have shut down and another has started leaking in the past two months.

"Once it leaks, it's not repairable. Especially at the age that they are," Don Windels, executive director of the Lighthouse, explained.

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The affected boilers provide heat to 68 rooms and an office area.

With all five of the boilers being installed at the same time, roughly 32 years ago, Windels said the shelter was told they would all likely fail.

"And it was just best that we get them replaced before the real cold comes."

The Lighthouse has gained permission from the provincial government to redirect money it received for renovations towards replacing the boilers before the next cold snap.

But the shelter says it's now facing an $84,000 shortfall in its budget for the renovations, which it says are crucial.

Windelssaidthe Lighthouse has begun reaching out to the community, hoping donations will help cover the cost.

"We will have to come up with the funds somehow," said Windels.

"People are thinking about giving for the end of the year so now would be a good time."

An extreme cold warning was in place for Saskatoon on Saturday.

Windels said while the shelter definitely saw an increase in usage during the past few days of extreme cold, it didn't reach capacity.