Castlegar, Trail -- Day Three

Today in Castlegar we saw an extraordinary example of community concern and organizing. There is no government supported emergency shelter in town. So a group of residents has found a way to provide temporary emergency accomodation.

Enough donations have been collected to rent a small apartment in a motel/trailer park to use as an emergency shelter. This unit has room for two people to stay. The owner of the motel provides it at less than cost and arranges for maintenance and upkeep. He also rents out the rest of the motel at very affordable rates to people who need low rent housing -- and, together with his wife and the maintenance person/caretaker -- provides as much support and assistance as possible to the residents.

Members of the community provide food and do informal outreach. When they hear of someone who needs a temporary place to stay they find that person and, if necessary, bring them to the motel.

The owner of the motel was moved to tears as he told us of his commitment to make sure no one is left without a place to stay. All of these committed community members are stretched to the limit and are looking for help from the provincial government to do their impportant work.

Kootenays Day Three -- Castlegar, Trail

ITINERARY
9:00 AM -- Food Bank, St. David's Anglican Church
9:45 AM -- Visit temporary ad hoc emergency shelter
10:00 AM -- Freedom Quest Regional Youth Services
11:00 AM -- Mental Health and Addiction Services
12:00 -- Castlegar Community Services Society
2:00 PM -- Trail Mental Health and Addictions Advocates and Volunteers
3:00 PM -- Salvation Army Kate's Kitchen

Nelson -- Day Two

Today we visited a remarkable program for at risk youth. The Cicada Place Youth Independent Housing and Outreach provides not just a home, but ongoing support for young people.

The philosophy of "Housing First" is key to solving the problem of homelessness. But to be succesful, homeless people -- like everyone else -- need to be part of a community. That means having a social network, feeling worthy and making a contribution to others. This model was very iunstructive in terms of the kinds of housing and supoports we need in BC.

We had an amazing discussion with a group of people at The Clubhouse, a welcoming and homey centre for people with mental health challenges. One participant said that the best programs for those with addiction and mental health problems include detox, treatment, support personnel and long-term independent housing on the same site.

Kootenays Day Two - Nelson

Itinerary
9:00 AM Salvation Army Emergency Shelter
10:00 AM Stepping Stones Emergency Shelter
11:00 AM United Church Food Cupboard
12:00 Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen
1:30 PM Mental Health Clubhouse
2:30 PM Cicada Place Youth Housing
3:30 PM Nelson Youth Centre
4:30 PM Youth Outreach Worker
6:30 PM Meet with Member of Parliament

Day 1 -- Cranbrook

We want to thank the people we met at the Salvation Army, many of them homeless, who were kind enough to tell us about their experiences. One of them told us that he
believes the situation in Cranbrook has improved this year because there is now an emergency shelter for men, and that showers and laundry facilities were built at the Salvation Army. But he reminded us that an emergency shelter is not a home. A home to him includes a room, kitchen facilties, a washroom and privacy.


We were privileged to meet the Chair of the local Housing Coalition, Anglican Priest Yme Woedrest. He argued that the municipal, provincial and federal governments and the private sector must work together to improve the situation. And he said that the crisis of homelessness will not be solved unless developers' motives include compassion as well as profit.

Many people in Cranbrook talked to us about a cruel irony. As the real estate boom increases property values at the top of the market, rents at the bottom of the market are pulled up and homelessness increases.

Kootenays Day One - Cranbrook

Cranbrook, February 19, ITINERARY

8:15 AM -- The Refuge Men's Shelter
8:30 AM -- Salvation Army Breakfast Program
9:30 AM -- Food Bank
10:00 AM -- Women's Centre
11:00 AM -- ANKORS AIDS Support Group
11:30 AM -- Salvation Army Lunch Program
1:00 PM -- Community Assistance Program (MEIA)
2:00 PM -- Meeting with Chair of Housing Coalition
3:00 PM -- Meeting with Mayor of Cranbrook
3:45 PM -- Meeting with Member of Parliament

Cranbrook Day one

Our daily report from Cranbrook will be posted tomorrow morning due to technical difficulties. Currently we are in Nelson getting ready for day 2 of Finding Our Way Home. Please visit our blog tomorrow.