The number edges up every year and now includes families turning out to seek help on a day designed to connect homeless people with services they’re missing out on.
The eighth annual Richmond Homeless Connect is being held on Thursday Oct. 20 at St. Alban Anglican Church and organizers are expecting an increase in the number of homeless people reaching out for clothes, shoes, a medical check-up, a haircut and a hot lunch.
Since Homeless Connect started in 2009 — when 20 people showed up — more and more people have been feeling confident enough to accept the helping hand given to them on the day.
However, it’s the changing demographics of the people coming through their door in October that is surprising De Whalen, one of the co-coordinators of the event.
“We’ve been getting few families coming through; there were two last year, one of which was a family of four who needed translation. I think they were Asian,” said Whalen.
“We tend not to ask too many questions as we don’t want to scare them away. We want them to come out and ask for help, we don’t want them to feel they are being interrogated.
“They come in looking for clothes, shoes, that sort of thing. This is a really friendly, safe place for them to come.”
Fellow event co-coordinator Sandy McLeod said the age of the person turning up on Homeless Connect Day now ranges from 19 to 70, with the number of women over men increasing.
“I don’t know for sure what to expect this year; I know one of the local church’s community meals attracted more than 200 people recently, so who knows; it could be an indication of the ‘at risk’ people out there,” said McLeod.
In 2015, said McLeod, the ages for the men ranged from 30-72, while the women ranged from 40-54 (24 men and 18 women).
“Some of these individuals were also staying in Richmond recovery homes and volunteered at the event,” she said.
Although the event has several agencies and businesses donating their time and products, monetary donations from the public are vital for the day to provide the best support possible.
“Monetary donations are best, as we sometimes get inundated with coats, which we end up having to scramble to find somewhere to store for the winter,” said Whalen.
“And if we have the money, we can go out and purchase food for the lunch and the clothes we think people will need. We can get good discounts when we have some buying power.”
Homeless Connect Day kicks off 9 a.m. with a pancake breakfast, followed with access to direct services, such as haircuts, clothing, meals and healthcare, as well as information and referral to services that can be accessed year round.
The Homeless Connect planning committee is also asking Richmond residents to give a little extra this year so that donations can be forwarded on to the year-round services that do not have regular funding — such as outreach services, life skills counselling, community education and the extreme weather shelter.
If you can help: Send monetary donations c/o Richmond Food Bank Society, 100-5800 Cedarbridge Way, Richmond. Make cheques payable to Homeless Connect.
