Serving those in need
Posted by Denis Stephenson
Brad Harris told club members that last year 3,100 people stayed at the Brampton emergency shelter for at least one night and 1,851 at the Mississauga shelter.
Calvin Hillyard introduced our guest speaker - Bradley Harris. He has been working with the homeless since 1992, first in Toronto then at the drop-in centre for family units in Toronto. In 1999 he came to the Emergency Shelter in Peel region first at the Rutherford Road Shelter in Brampton then at Mavis Rd in Mississauga and since 2001 he has been at the Wilkinson Rd Shelter in Brampton.
He has been affiliated with the Salvation Army all his life and his family goes back five generations with the Army.
Federal and Provincial monies have been severly cut back for the homeless. Not only do the shelters provide a home but they also get involved with addiction and mental issues, he told the club.
The shelters provide counselling as well:
Spiritual needs
Housing needs
Employment assistance
Medical Clinics
The allowable stay was ten days but an "extended stay" program has been introduced, which allows for longer periods where beneficial.
The centres are working hard to build relationships and acceptance in the general community.
Two of the main groups serviced are single males and youths 16 to 18.
Our speaker was thanked by guest Alan Gamble.
He has been affiliated with the Salvation Army all his life and his family goes back five generations with the Army.
Federal and Provincial monies have been severly cut back for the homeless. Not only do the shelters provide a home but they also get involved with addiction and mental issues, he told the club.
The shelters provide counselling as well:
Spiritual needs
Housing needs
Employment assistance
Medical Clinics
The allowable stay was ten days but an "extended stay" program has been introduced, which allows for longer periods where beneficial.
The centres are working hard to build relationships and acceptance in the general community.
Two of the main groups serviced are single males and youths 16 to 18.
Our speaker was thanked by guest Alan Gamble.