TIMMINS - Honouring lived experience and doing the work to get support for those living with homelessness is bringing people together..
The City of Timmins has declared Oct. 10 World Homeless Day, and local service providers are using the annual event to raise awareness of the lives of those without a home.
“We appreciate that there’s a day set aside for them,” said Shiloh Spencer, a Mushkegowuk Firekeepers outreach worker. “We hope that everyone truly opens their mind to understand the different things that put people in this position.”
The day was also an obvious choice for the Cochrane District Service Board (CDSB) staff to kick off its point-in-time (PiT) population count.
The count will give a snapshot of the homeless population in the region and provide an idea of what kind of funding and support are needed going forward.
The last PiT count was done in 2021, with a total of 312 people experiencing homelessness in the region. The number is expected to be higher this time.
“We’re asking our community partners to survey their clients,” said Natalie Hallok, CDSB system of care program manager. “We thought starting on World Homeless Day was a great way to launch the PiT count.”
On Oct. 10, the team will be out taking a count of people without shelter, and on Oct. 11, they will be surveying those who are in shelters and temporarily staying with family or friends.
The PiT count is happening nationally as part of the government’s Everyone Counts initiative to give a clearer picture of what homelessness looks like across the country.
The data collected in the Cochrane district will be used to tailor services to the population's needs.
“It gives the government a picture of what homelessness looks like in our community and identifies the need so that we can hopefully receive the appropriate funding to provide services and supports,” she said.
Those services can include case management support and housing opportunities.
The day is also a chance for the community to gather and support each other, said Hallok.
“It’s a time to come together and honour and respect those who have lived experience or are living with homelessness,” she said.
World Homeless Day was first recognized on Oct. 10, 2010, and it has been observed in over 100 countries. It is meant to celebrate good work happening in communities and to advocate for those living with homelessness.
“It’s good to come together to talk about homelessness in a positive way and the positive things that are happening,” said Deputy Mayor Cory Robin at the proclamation.
