Yellowknife’s homeless population finding support in Calgary – Calgary | 24CA News
When the evacuation order got here down for town of Yellowknife, Tony Brushett knew there have been individuals who would wish additional assist to get out.
“We got a call from the territorial government stating that the most vulnerable, those with mental health and addictions issues were going to charter a flight so that was good,” mentioned Brushett who’s the chief director of Yellowknife’s Salvation Army that gives psychological well being and dependancy assist providers.
“As we lined them up to get them on one of the flights, I guess one of the concerns was, what about the homeless population.”
A 2021 point-in-time rely discovered 312 individuals have been experiencing homelessness in Yellowknife. Approximately 50 individuals depend on the Salvation Army’s shelter for a mattress each night time. Brushett’s group made certain these individuals have been both evacuated with different relations or knew the place to go as soon as they arrived in Calgary. 17 males at the moment are staying at Calgary’s Centre of Hope, in a newly transformed area.
“We’re just converting (this space) into transitional housing, so we were two weeks out of filling it with new clients,” mentioned Cliff Weibe, government director of the Salvation Army in Calgary. “So, what we were going to do in two weeks, the team did in two hours and got everything set up.”
Five employees members from the Yellowknife Salvation Army are additionally understanding of the Centre of Hope to assist its shoppers. They are in fixed communication with those that are usually not staying on the shelter, the Salvation Army providers roughly 100 individuals within the Northwest Territories via all its applications.
“We have them scattered out everywhere, but our staff are calling daily and just checking in on them,” mentioned Brushett. “Knowing that they are safe is key for us right now.”
Brushett says having a mattress and entry to their common providers may very well be the distinction between life and loss of life for a few of their most weak shoppers.
“Any change is tough and if they were put out into the general population of Calgary, they wouldn’t know how to survive.”
The Calgary Drop In Centre has additionally seen a slight improve in demand for its shelter providers however says they’ve beds and have readied the kitchen employees ought to there be extra evacuees in want. Its donation centre has opened a pop-up store permitting individuals entry to free on a regular basis objects they weren’t capable of deliver with them.
“We know how challenging it can be to deal with poverty,” mentioned Colin Newman, a supervisor on the Drop In Donation Centre. “To have the added difficulty of moving and dealing with the environment of a new city… moving away from home on an emergency basis, that’s a very difficult circumstance.”
21 evacuees have been via the donation centre stocking up. Newman says it brings him pleasure to know he’s serving to if even just a bit.
“The first family that came in, they had a big family of four kids,” mentioned Newman. “I could see on their faces just how much of a toll this ordeal was taking on them.”
Both the Salvation Army and the Drop In Centre say they’re in want of donations, particularly private hygiene merchandise. They will be dropped off at their respective donation facilities, and money donations will be made on-line. Both organizations additionally welcome anybody trying to volunteer their time to assist evacuees.
