Alliance to End Homelessness working together
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Posted By ERICH JACOBY-HAWKINS
Posted 2 months ago
Settling in Barrie a decade ago, one of the first groups I volunteered alongside was the Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness, also known as SCATEH or 'the Alliance'.
Serving on the Mayor's Task Force on Affordable Housing, I worked closely with the Alliance's co-ordinator, Mandy Hillyard, who co-chaired the task force.
Over the ensuing three years, I learned a great deal about housing and poverty issues in Barrie and the Alliance's important work, so when the task force was disbanded, I became a SCATEH member myself. Mandy has moved on to other responsibilities, but the Alliance continues to expand and advocate.
Alliance chapters meet in the main cities in Simcoe County, including Barrie, Bradford, Collingwood, Orillia, and Midland/ Penetang. Each chapter is made up of like-minded individuals representing agencies dealing with homelessness, such as shelters, soup kitchens, food banks, drop-in centres and housing agencies or providers.
Groups whose clients are at risk of poverty or homelessness also take part, such as mental health issues, addictions, or trouble with the law.
In Barrie, the chapter's members include the Elizabeth Fry Society, Grocery Assistance Program, Barrie Housing, the Salvation Army, Youth Haven, the Women and Children's Shelter, the David Busby Street Centre, Samaritan House, Ontario Works, the Green Party, Canadian Mental Health, etc.
Gathering monthly, these partners discuss their often overlapping portfolios, sharing information about programs or opportunities, needs they have, what they can offer. They also collaborate on joint events, such as last fall's Day of Compassion, which offered free food, winter clothing, health services and information to the impoverished or homeless to help them prepare for winter. A similar day is in the works this year.
Another traditional event (five years and counting) is the 'Night Out in the Cold' each fall at Memorial Square, which in recent years has included a peaceful march from Barrie Armories to the Memorial Square to raise the profile of the chapter and poverty-related issues.
After a free meal for 200-250 people, an outdoor debate is held (during election years), where candidates take questions about poverty and family budget issues from members of the public. This year will be no exception, so watch for an announcement of the event in October.
As a candidate myself at three of those debates (2006, 2007 and 2008, at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels) I can vouch that they offer the toughest questions and a very genuine audience. An easy gauge of how much candidates care for the most vulnerable is whether they even show up for this event, and how sincerely they can address the issues.
The Alliance's next activity is an open house on Friday. This 'first annual' event, designed to educate potential new members who can help expand and carry the Alliance forward, runs from
9 to 10 a.m. at Trinity Anglican Church, 24 Collier St.
After refreshments, Barrie chapter chairperson Paula King will introduce the Alliance's activities and goals, then attendees will be able to ask questions.
The Alliance's motto is 'Working together to end homelessness'. If you are concerned about poverty and homelessness in your community, and would like to play a role in addressing them, then you should definitely attend.
Erich Jacoby-Hawkins is an educator, father, volunteer, and politician. Comment on this and other Root Issues at www.ErichtheGreen.ca.
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