More needs to be done to fight homelessness other than providing food and shelter, according to Mayor June Caul.
As the provincial government works to provide more funding for shelter and services for the homeless, Caul said she has already sent a letter to the ministry, premier and prime minister advocating for a trauma centre to be put in the area. Her daughter works as a social worker and has exposed Caul to some of the underlining experiences that could be drivers towards mental illness and drug use.
“Counselling is great and it works,” said Caul. “There has to be a way to help the person work through the trauma that they’ve had so they can truly start to heal.”
The Government of Ontario announced an additional $255 million to help emergency shelters for the homeless and vulnerable population, on Wednesday March 10. The Rainy River District Services Administration Board is set to receive $500,000 of those funds, according to the announcement by MPP Greg Rickford for Kenora-Rainy River.
“The new funding is a continuation of the support that our government has provided to local service board to protect homeless shelter staff and residents,” said Rickford.
The funding can be used to acquire motel and hotel spaces to support physical distancing of shelter residents, hire more shelter staff, purchase personal protect equipment and cleaning supplies, and add to rent and utility banks to prevent more people from becoming homeless, according to Rickford’s office.
“We are still waiting on directives from the ministry,” said Dan McCormick, chief administrative officer at the RRDSSAB. “Only thing we have identified so far is that it can’t be used for major capital. It can be used for minor renovations and improvements.”
McCormick said the RRDSSAB will be giving updates on the specifics in the coming weeks.
Last summer, Caul said the town did not have anything in place for the homeless population which put a lot of pressure on the Family Centre on Fourth Street to provide for them. The Family Centre was not able to provide an overnight stay which resulted in tents being set up along the street by the centre.
Now with the town putting the new tenting by-law in place, Point Park is the only place where more than one tent can be set up. Caul said the washrooms and showers will be remaining open this year in park.
Point Park is scheduled to open on May 1.
In preparation for the summer, Caul said she will be reaching out to the hospital and food bank to help with providing meals and food for the homeless.
“It’s important that for their[homeless people] self-worth that they have the opportunities to do things for themselves rather than feeling like they’re a burden on society,” said Caul. “Because I know that’s often how they do feel and we want to provide them with some kind of environment where they’re able to feel comfortable, safe, and be able to kind of look after themselves.”
