THUNDER BAY – Agencies supporting the homeless in Thunder Bay say they’ve stepped up their efforts to ensure there are options for those in need to get out of the cold, and continue to look to the community for support.
Georgina McKinnon, executive director of People Advocating for Change through Empowerment (PACE), said the agency recently received funding to operate its south end warming centre from the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board.
The centre, located at 512 Victoria Avenue, opened on last week and will operate until March 30 with two staff.
“It is wonderful,” McKinnon said in a recent interview. “PACE was going to offer it regardless – we would have had it open on the extreme cold days in accordance with the city’s cold weather plan. But this funding allows us to give everybody a safe place they know is going to be open now.”
The organization is still hoping to raise about $30,000 in additional funds to hire at least two more staff to support operations, she added.
Donations, including warm clothing, are welcome at PACE’s office at 510 Victoria Avenue from Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., or after hours at the warming centre. The organization will also pick up donations if contacted via Facebook.
Meanwhile, Grace Place has expanded its Out of the Cold program, increasing its capacity from 15 to 25 beds. The program runs seven days a week from 9 p.m. through 8 a.m., and is geared primarily for those who may not be accepted by other area shelters.
“We just dug deep,” said program manager Melody Macsemchuk of the expansion. “We looked into our areas and we thought this would be sorely needed, as there are still some people outside.”
She said about 20 to 22 people a night have been making use of the program on cold nights so far this winter.
Phoenix Schweitz, director of harm reduction with Elevate NWO, said the agency was still supporting a half dozen people who were living outdoors without shelter as of last week.
Outreach workers with Elevate’s unsheltered homelessness program continue to check in on people in identified encampments, he said, sharing supplies including food and propane.
“We’re just trying to get to the encampments as many times in a day as possible just to check on our folks out there, making sure they have the blankets and the sleeping bags they need, they have appropriate protection.”
Elevate’s own north end warming centre, which opened for the first time last year, is seeing as many as 90 to 120 people come through the doors each day this year, he said.
Elevate has also assisted some in finding transitional housing. The agency maintains cluster units that were accommodating about 28 people, while it had helped another 10 to 15 people find permanent residence, Schweitz said.
The agency continues to raise funds for an outreach van to support its efforts. The outreach work is currently being done using a staffer’s small personal vehicle.
