Orignially a cold-weather program, Shelter House SOS numbers double this summer

A Shelter House Thunder Bay program has seen its numbers double during the summer season.

The SOS program was originally started as a cold weather initiative in 2013 to help the city's most vulnerable during winter, transferring people to and from places like detox, hospital and Shelter House.

Now running year-round for the first time, Shelter House program director Brad King said calls have doubled during the summer compared to winter. In December there were 350 calls, with more than 700 in May, with around 23 rides every day.

"It leveled off a little in June but still significantly higher," he said.

Part of that is more awareness for the program but also more people are on the street during the summer months.

"People on the street in the winter are often hidden," King said.

Dehydration and heat stroke are risks for people on the street during the summer but there's also the danger of drowning as more people tend to congregate near the water King said.

Around 50 per cent of calls continue to come from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

"So we're actually helping to clear out the emergency room," King said.