THUNDER BAY — The Care Bus that offers free transportation, shelter, and connections to health and social services to the homeless and others in need on the streets of Thunder Bay is back on the road for a third winter.
The bus relaunched on Monday and will run seven days a week between 1 and 9 p.m. until March 31, announced NorWest Community Health Centres, which operates the service.
The agency said the usage numbers it collected over the past two seasons show the bus is a “crucial service for the vulnerable population of Thunder Bay during our cold winter months.”
In a news release, NorWest said the bus had helped “[ensure] that 5,790 individuals had safe secure shelter, 121 individuals received access to health care, 75 COVID-19 vaccinations were provided, 692 connections were made for individuals to secure social services, 708 harm reduction supplies were distributed, and 10,218 items were distributed to ensure individuals had access to food, water, and warm clothing.”
The bus is staffed with outreach workers and runs between the city’s north and south ends, with connections at shelters and other service agencies.
The service was launched two years ago in response to calls from activist group Not One More Death, which said more supports were needed after reporting multiple deaths on the city’s streets.
NorWest warned earlier this fall it did not have the funding to operate the bus, before receiving $50,000 from the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board.
Other organizations, including the Lakehead Social Planning Council, also support the initiative, NorWest said.
NorWest has said it hopes to eventually operate the bus year-round.
