Winter in Saskatoon

If you are in Saskatoon right now, you just survived a really cold snap and even though it has warmed up quite a bit, it is still cold outside.

Many people phone and e-mail and ask what do we do when it gets this cold.  Well we do a bunch of things to make sure that no one is left out in the cold.

• During the day we open our lounge up for clients so they can stay out of the cold.  While normally we close down the place for cleaning during the day, when it is this cold, it stays open all day so guys do not have to go outside.  As soon as the dorms and washrooms are cleaned, we open all of them back up for the men so they can have some more space to relax, catch up on some sleep, or read.
• People naturally assume that we get a lot busier when it gets this cold but generally it is a little quieter (people tend to hunker down and stay put when it is this cold).  If we do get busier, we would make available our entire building rather than refuse someone (we hate refusing anyone on the basis of space at the best of times but in the winter we make sure that no one is going to freeze).  Years ago I took a tour of an old Soviet submarine.  It had bunks on the engines and the torpedoes.  While the Centre doesn't have torpedoes, we will put a mattress and a bunk anywhere if it means that no one is left out in the cold.  If we do run out of room, we put clients up in local hotels.
• We work with Larson House and the Saskatoon City Police to ensure people who are intoxicated or high are taken care of if they do wander into our place.  Speaking of the Saskatoon City Police, officers do bring in people that do not have shelter or who have been found in shelter that isn't suitable for the weather outside.  We warm them up, give them suitable winter gear, and give them a safe place to sleep.  Outside of the city limits, the local RCMP does the same thing with hitchhikers.  They bring them down and we help them out.
• Our Clothing Cave is generally open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday but in cold weather we outfit people any time they need it.  At both of our reception areas we have mitts, toques, scarves, socks, and thanks to the generous donations of the people of Saskatoon.
• While this doesn't happen just because it is really cold out, once the temperature starts to dip a bit, the kitchen staff bring out the porridge and oat meal.  Wilfred Brimley would be proud. When it is cold like this the kitchen tends to heap up the portions and serves bigger meals to compensate for the calories burned to stay warm.

Despite our best efforts, there are still people choosing to be outside this winter.  We know many of them through their past stays with us or through our drop in programs during the day and on the weekend evenings.  At every opportunity we invite them to come and stay with us or we work at finding other sleeping arrangements for them if we are not their best option.  It’s an ongoing process but one we continue to ensure that those who are in the cold have safe and warm accommodations during our winter.  Even for those who refuse our offers of warmth, we provide blankets, warm (or warmer) clothing and winter gear to help them keep warm.

If you are looking for a way to help, there are a couple things you can do to make a difference.

1. Donate.  Whether it be a financial donation or if you have a warm winter jacket, socks, toques, gloves, men's underwear (and long underwear) or a scarf, it all helps out.  You can drop off a donation at 339 Avenue C South anytime, day or night.  When it is this cold we give out the stuff as soon as it comes in so whatever you can give, our clients appreciate tremendously.
2. Direct people panhandling or who are in need to us.  At this temperature we do not turn anyone away and we work with the Ministry of Social Services to ensure all of their essential needs are met.  A warm bed and three and a half meals a day are provided (we provide a filling snack at night as well).  If the person needs a different agency or more help then we can offer, we keep them safe, warm, and comfortable while we arrange whatever help is needed.
3. Help spread the news about what we do.  Despite being here for over 100 years, some people don't know that there is a men's hostel in town or that we help women in emergency need.  We work hard at getting the word out but we can always use your help as well.

Under what circumstances is someone forbidden to stay at the Salvation Army?

We get this asked once in a while and this answer comes from our F.A.Q.

While we try our best at helping out the most amount of people possible, there are some people that we do not allow to reside or use services at the Salvation Army.

In the past some clients have become extremely violent towards staff or other clients or have endangered people who stay or work here in another way (drug dealing, starting fires, or extensive willful damage to the facility).

There are some clients who insist on abusing drugs, alcohol, or other substances which impact their ability to stay here.  The Centre is full of clients who are working hard at staying clean and sober and for those who are not at that point, we are not always their best option.  Also there are those that can not function within the rules of the Centre and become a danger to the staff and other people around them.  In those cases other residential placements are better options.

In the vast majority of cases we will ban a client for a finite period of time and after that time is past, we welcome them back to the Centre and we will work well together at resolving the issues we have.

There are some clients however that because of consistent danger towards others, are not allowed to come back until those violence issues are dealt with.

While we are the only men’s hostel in town, there are other supported living spaces available.  What we find is that there is a wide range of individuals that need emergency shelter and while we would like to be able to help everyone, this is the wrong kind of place for a small percentage of clients to be.  When possible, we work with the Ministry of  Social Services and other agencies to find better placements. 

There are the occasional situation that we just have to refuse for the safety of staff, other residents, and the public we serve.  It’s not a decision we make lightly and as a provider of emergency housing, having to refuse someone does go against who we are but there are times we have no other option and have to refuse services to them.

If you have any questions about how we handle these situations, feel free to contact the Centre at 244.6280 or email Jordon Cooper, our Residential Coordinator.

Re-Zoning Approved!

The Salvation Army got approval from Saskatoon’s City Council tonight to rezone 341 Avenue T South to zoning that allow a short term emergency women’s shelter to be opened there.  This is a significant step for the Centre’s goals of having a safe place for women and children to go to when they are in crisis.

Thanks to all of the staff, officers, our realtor, city councilors, city employees, the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, and our architect Ken Wilson for getting us this far.  After we get our building permits, we hope to be open by the time winter hits in 2009.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact Captain Rhonda Smith at rhonda_smith@can.salvationarmy.org or the Residential Coordinator, Jordon Cooper jordon.cooper@salvationarmysaskatoon.org.  Both can be reached via phone at 306.244.6833.

Women's Shelter Re-Zoning Meeting

On June 16th, the Salvation Army, the City of Saskatoon, and the citizens of Pleasant Hill got together to discuss our desire for a zoning change to allow us to purchase and open an emergency shelter for women and children who are homeless in Saskatoon.

Along the way, there was a mis-communication between the City and Pleasant Hill School and the school was locked when everyone got there. Luckily it was a perfect evening to sit outside and talk so instead of using the school's auditorium, we used the front lawn.  The result was we all got to enjoy the late spring weather and no one can accuse us of meeting behind closed doors!

If you missed the meeting or have any questions about the project, please don't hesitate to contact Captain Rhonda Smith at the Centre via phone (242.6833), e-mail, or in drop by in person.

The Salvation Army Community Centre and “wet shelters”

Earlier this week a story was published on CBC Saskatchewan that addressed a recent report (PDF) published by the Saskatoon Indian and Metis Friendship Centre, interviewed 44 people who were having trouble finding housing..  Captain Rhonda Smith and I sat down with a reporter from CBC Radio and we addressed several of the issues that came up in the report that were relevant to our role as a shelter for men in Saskatoon.

When the story did come out, it focused on some comments I made about wet shelters.  The quotes made it look like we as a Centre were engaged in discussions about a wet shelter which is not accurate and was never the intent of my answer.  The greater context of the answer made it clear that the Salvation Army Community Centre is a drug and alcohol free shelter and as a “dry shelter”, we were the wrong people to ask about the effectiveness of wet shelters.  I suggested that the people to talk to about wet shelters were the Saskatoon Health Region and more specifically Larson House.  When the story was published, I was disappointed that the article did not share the broader context of our conversation and it gave the impression that we were actively engaged in discussions about a wet shelter in Saskatoon when we are not.

For over 100 years in Saskatoon, the Salvation Army has been providing assistance to people with a variety of social and spiritual needs.  The Salvation Army Community Centre in Saskatoon continues this practice by offering a alcohol and drug free environment for the community to take come to and receive food, shelter, emergency services, budget management, and spiritual care.

Clients who do choose to drink or consume drugs are referred to Larson House or in the case of extreme intoxication, are picked up by the Saskatoon City Police (or if it is in their best medical interests, we call an ambulance and they are given medical care). 

While the vast majority of the 18,000+ beds we served up in 2008 were used by men wanting a drug and alcohol free shelter, some of our clients are determined to continue to consume drugs and alcohol on a consistent basis.  For those clients we work with them in finding other places to reside and in extreme cases, we ask that they do find other places to reside other than our facility for the safety of our staff and other clients. 

If you have any questions about this or any other manner, don’t hesitate to call the Centre at 306.242.6833 or e-mail jordon.cooper@salvationarmysaskatoon.org or our Executive Director at rhonda_smith@can.salvationarmy.org.

Residential Services Job Opening

The Salvation Army Community Centre (here in Saskatoon) has a job opening for a night residential worker.  A consistent 40 hour work week, good benefits, interesting job.  It’s listed on Sask Jobs as security but it is actually a front line residential worker at the men’s shelter.  If you are interested, e-mail me at jordon.cooper@salvationarmysaskatoon.org or drop off your resume at the Centre.

Salvation Army Emergency Shelter for Women and Children

Back in early 2008, the Salvation Army Community Centre in Saskatoon recognized the need for an emergency women and children's shelter in Saskatoon.  The YWCA was constantly full and a booming Saskatoon economy meant that it was harder and harder to find emergency accommodations in Saskatoon.  In 2008 alone, the Salvation Army Emergency After Hours helped women and children in crisis with 2509 hotel rooms.

After a lot of hard work with the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, the Government of Saskatchewan, and other agencies, we secured capital and operational funding for the project.  Since the process started a year ago we have been looking almost daily for property that would best serve women and children in need.  The same conditions that made the need so visible (the booming economy and real estate market) made it hard to find an appropriate location but we finally found one that will allow to house up to ten families a night on an emergency basis.

Pending a successful rezoning, the project will be open to women and families in the spring of 2009.  Thanks to the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, the Ministry of Social Services, and other individuals and agencies that have helped us get this far.

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please contact Jordon Cooper (Residential Coordinator) or Captain Rhonda Smith (Executive Director).  Both can be reached at 242.6833.

By the numbers

The numbers below give you an idea of what kind of year the Salvation Army Community Centre had in 2008.

Our 2007 stats

• 6638 beds used
• 67,417 meals served
• 4,055 breakfasts served to high school students
• 3,533 women and children provided with emergency after hours assistance
• 1141 hotel rooms used to provide emergency shelter for women and children
• 228 emergency infant needs provided for
• 4205 Christmas hampers given out
• 2222 people given free clothing
• 219 emergency food hampers distributed
• 70 inner city kids sent to camp
• 113 Family Tracing cases handled

What we did in 2008

• 84,725 meals served
• 17,553 beds provided
• 5458 adults and children provided with emergency after hours assistance.
• 122 emergency food hampers provided
• 2509 hotel rooms used to provide emergency shelter for women and children with 8278 meals provided
• 203 emergency infant needs provided for
• 2 fires where our help was requested to provide coffee, beverages, and sandwiches
• 230 bus tickets arranged for
• 1131 taxies provided
• 104 Family Tracing cases
• 4223 people given free clothing

It's been quite a year and we want to thank our the Government of Saskatchewan for continued funding, the support of thousands of people making donations at the Centre, via the Christmas kettles, and the Red Shield appeal, and all of the other NGO's in the city that we work with on a daily basis to make Saskatoon a better place to live for people in need.

Government of Canada Announces $450,000 in support for the Emergency Women’s Shelter in Saskatoon

The Government of Canada announced a $450,000 contribution through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy for the Salvation Army Community Centre to open a women’s shelter on Friday.

Canada’s Government is helping families and individuals in Saskatchewan break free from the cycles of homelessness and poverty and build a stronger future for themselves.

Mr. Ed Komarnicki, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament for Souris–Moose Mountain, today announced investments in 12 projects in Saskatchewan under the Government’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS).

“Our government is delivering on our commitment to help those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. We are proud to support community efforts that help find local solutions to local issues,” said Mr. Komarnicki, who made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “By investing over $1.7 million in these 12 projects across Saskatchewan, we are supporting community efforts to help those in need.”

The announcement took place at the Salvation Army Community Centre in Saskatoon, a shelter, food provider and drop-in centre. The organization is receiving HPS funding to help create 42 emergency shelter beds and six temporary cots for women and children. Individuals will benefit by having a safe place to live in which they can access support services and transition out of homelessness.

“The Salvation Army Women’s Shelter will provide a safe and supportive environment for women and children in times of crisis, empowering women to take the necessary steps to obtain safe, secure and long-term stable housing for themselves and their families,” said Captain Rhonda Smith, Executive Director of the Salvation Army Community Centre.

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy provides funds over two years to help communities across Canada combat homelessness. The HPS recognizes that housing stability is essential to self-sufficiency and full participation in Canadian society. The Strategy focuses on transitional and supportive housing as important measures to help people overcome homelessness. With its clear goals of improved partnerships, enhanced sustainability and tangible results, HPS will provide concrete, meaningful and lasting results for Canadians in need.

“Our government is investing more in affordable and supportive housing than any other federal government in Canada’s history and, as a result, we are helping tens of thousands of Canadians who are especially vulnerable in the current economic environment,” said Mr. Komarnicki.

The link between homelessness and mental illness is well established. In 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the first-ever Mental Health Commission of Canada. In Budget 2008, the Government committed $110 million for the Commission to develop new, innovative demonstration projects to help Canadians facing mental health and homelessness.

Technorati Tags: Homelessness Partnering Strategy,Government of Canada,Ed Komarnicki,Salvation Army Community Centre,Salvation Army,Saskatoon

It's cold outside

If you are in Saskatoon right now, you know that it is awfully cold outside.  At the time of writing this post, it was -32 degrees Celsius and with a biting windchill, it is -45 degrees Celsius outside.

Many people phone and e-mail and ask what do we do when it gets this cold.  Well we do a bunch of things to make sure that no one is left out in the cold.

• During the day we open our lounge up for clients so they can stay out of the cold.  While normally we close down the place for cleaning during the day, when it is this cold, it stays open all day so guys do not have to go outside.  As soon as the dorms and washrooms are cleaned, we open all of them back up for the men so they can have some more space to relax, catch up on some sleep, or read.
  
• People naturally assume that we get a lot busier when it gets this cold but generally it is a little quieter (people tend to hunker down and stay put when it is this cold).  If we do get busier, we would make available our entire building rather than refuse someone (we hate refusing anyone on the basis of space at the best of times but in the winter we make sure that no one is going to freeze).  Years ago I took a tour of an old Soviet submarine.  It had bunks on the engines and the torpedoes.  While the Centre doesn't have torpedoes, we will put a mattress and a bunk anywhere if it means that no one is left out in the cold.
  
• We work with Larson House and the Saskatoon City Police to ensure people who are intoxicated or high are taken care of if they do wander into our place.  Speaking of the Saskatoon City Police, officers do bring in people that do not have shelter or who have been found in shelter that isn't suitable for the weather outside.  We warm them up, give them suitable winter gear, and give them a safe place to sleep.  Outside of the city limits, the local RCMP does the same thing with hitchhikers.  They bring them down and we help them out.
  
• Our Clothing Cave is generally open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday but in cold weather we outfit people any time they need it.  At both of our reception areas we have mitts, toques, scarves, socks, and thanks to Mark's Workwear House and Sleep Country, our lobbies also have numerous winter jackets to give out to anyone in need.
• While this doesn't happen just because it is really cold out, once the temperature starts to dip a bit, the kitchen staff bring out the porridge and oat meal.  Wilfred Brimley would be proud. When it is cold like this the kitchen tends to heap up the portions and serves bigger meals to compensate for the calories burned to stay warm.
  

If you are looking for a way to help, there are a couple things you can do to make a difference.

1. Donate.  Whether it be a financial donation or if you have a warm winter jacket, socks, toques, gloves, men's underwear (and long underwear) or a scarf, it all helps out.  You can drop off a donation at 339 Avenue C South anytime, day or night.  When it is this cold we give out the stuff as soon as it comes in so whatever you can give, our clients appreciate tremendously.
   
2. Direct people panhandling or who are in need to us.  At this temperature we do not turn anyone away and we work with the Ministry of Social Services to ensure all of their essential needs are met.  A warm bed and three and a half meals a day are provided (we provide a filling snack at night as well).  Over the last couple of days, City of Saskatoon, bank, and other service agencies have all brought people in.  If the person needs a different agency or more help then we can offer, we keep them safe, warm, and comfortable while we arrange whatever help is needed.
3. Help spread the news about what we do.  Despite being here for over 100 years, some people don't know that there is a men's hostel in town or that we help women in emergency need.  We work hard at getting the word out but we can always use your help as well.
   

Job Opening at the Salvation Army Community Centre

The details can be found on SaskJobs.ca.  It is a permanent full time job that features good pay, excellent benefits, and a chance to make a difference in the community.  If you have any questions or wish to apply for the job, e-mail bobbie.holoboff@salvationarmysaskatoon.org.

Job Opening: Night Janitor/Security

The Salvation Army Community Centre is hiring a night janitor security worker starting immediately.  This is a full time and permanent position.  If interested, please e-mail a resume to jordon.cooper@salvationarmysaskatoon.org, drop one off at 339 Avenue C South, or fax one to 306.665.0708.

Frontline Job Opening

The Salvation Army Community Centre has a job opening for a full time night position.  The pay is good and the benefits are excellent.  The position is both working our front desk at night, assisting clients, and doing some Emergency After Hours support.  Other nights it will be doing some janitorial work and just assisting on the front desk.  If you are interested, there is more information posted at Sask Jobs.

Technorati Tags: help wanted,Saskatoon