KAWARTHA LAKES – Approximately 50 local homeless people have been displaced from our local shelter to a motel as a result of the pandemic according to officials.
And while homelessness has always been an unseen reality in our community, numbers are climbing and plans for a new, bigger, more efficient shelter are in progress.
A Place Called Home, APCH, 64 Lindsay St., Lindsay, is a charitable, non-profit organization that has been providing shelter and 24/7 support services to the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, in the Kawartha Lakes and the Haliburton County since 1995.
According to David Tilley, Executive Director for APCH, the organization normally sees an increase of visitors during the winter months but the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the situation.
“Wintertime is certainly busier without question, historically, pre-Covid days, we got more calls from people sleeping in cars, tents or couch surfing, these were typical ones,” he explained. “Post-Covid we are still getting those calls but higher numbers that are a direct reflection of the current pandemic.”
As limitations, restrictions and rules continue, those who are homeless are now unable to stay with friends or on couches, he said.
“There is a higher number of individuals who cant use their normal channels to resolve their homelessness,” said Tilley.
Pre-Covid, APCH operated a 19 bed emergency shelter but in March when the pandemic ramped up, shelter officials decided that the emergency shelter wasn’t pandemic ready and a decision was made, with the local health unit to move residents to a local motel, where they are intended to stay until a new shelter is constructed, added Tilley.
Currently, the shelter has rented out every room at a local motel where their 50 clients currently reside. According to Tilley, once the clients were moved to the motel, it was expected to be a temporary fix but as the pandemic continues to lurk, and with the financial support from the province and encouragement from the city, APCH decided to move forward with a new build.
The province has committed 1.5 million dollars to the project and APCH is also upping their fundraising abilities with hopes of matching that amount to fund the project.
And even though the project is currently in the planning process, the dig is planned to begin this winter and according to Tilley, speed is the name of the game.
“Things are going to be fast and furious this year, it’s one of those things, we are moving at the speed of construction but with an emphasis on getting this completed quickly,” he said. “Clients at that hotel, it is a poor environment for providing client services. It’s a really hard way to address homelessness and not nearly as effective as having a shelter.”
According to Tilley, while the project is time sensitive, the final form of the new build will depend on the grants and fundraising.
If APCH is successful in fundraising, the organization will end up with a three-storey building that features 19 beds with six apartments included on the third floor.
The apartments will act as permanent housing for clients to live permanently if needed. APCH has previously operated a transitional house, with clients moving out after 2-4 years but in this case, people can move in and they never have to leave.
“Most wont want to stay forever but housing is tight in this area,” said Tilley.
He also noted that homelessness doesn’t have much of a visible presence is our community even though it is a constant reality.
“By the time they show up on our door step, their social contacts have been exhausted, we give them recourses and time to get their feet back underneath them and hopefully move them on to permanent housing,” he said. “We are in many ways a response to a pretty big social problem.”
Tilley noted that the numbers of clients in the shelter varies greatly during this time of year but the organization often sees their 19 beds full, a few couches full with some overflow in local motels. Currently, the local motel has no vacancy as their 38 rooms are now home to APCH clients.
According to Tilley, a large portion of their clients are single male and females but families with teenagers or young children visit the shelter consistently.
“The community effects from homeless are pretty deep financially and socially,” he said.
For more information on APCH or to donate visit www.apch.ca. The organization will also be holding a public meeting to discuss needs and future projects on December 17, 2020 at 7p.m. To attend the zoom meeting visit, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83917975609?pwd=VmpQcWpPK3pmM3l5S0VMZ3VySnhsQT09.
For those interested in joining the New Build Campaign Committee, email the APCH office at [email protected] . The next meeting will be held on January 14th at 8 p.m. via zoom.
