Niagara’s YWCA Asks You To Help Address A Growing Homelessness Problem In The Region

Posted by Doug Draper

“The past few years have been hard on our community.”

So stresses a note Elisabeth Zimmermann, executive direct of YMCA Niagara Region on the Ontario side of our greater region’s border sent to the regional government’s chairman, Gary Burroughs and his council late this July.

“Homelessness and poverty have increased 60 per cent, placing a greater strain on service providers and the government alike,” this note which every resident in this region goes on to say. “The latest reports indicate that Niagara continues to carry two to three percent higher-than-the-national average unemployment rate with plant closures and job losses reported on a seemingly daily basis.” 

“Niagara is also in the bottom five communities in Canada for lowest median Canada (and) with changes to federal unemployment rules, fewer Niagarians qualify for this insurance Previously in place safety nets have been removed by the federal government, causing a greater burden on provincial and municipal governments.

“This information is not new to you. We know that,” continues Zimmermann’s powerful note to our regional leaders and, indeed, it shouldn’t be.

Yet it is important to be reminded of these disturbing statistics again as the YWCA in this region, which provides emergency shelter to women and their families who find themselves homeless, is spearheading a campaign this month to raise $120,000 to help cover the cost of these services and transitional programs it runs to assist homeless people get back on their feet to a point where they can find permanent housing. 

This campaign is called “No Fixed Address” and is aimed at reducing the funding shortfalls the YWCA faces as it strives to help the increasing number of people across the region who have lost jobs that supported themselves and their families 

“No Fixed Address,” as the Y describes it, “is an event experience to raise awareness and funds to help solve the rising problem of families having to live in their cars, to educate about the reasons behind those who are calling their car ‘home,’ and to impact individuals trough an experience that will inspire them to be the voice of change for the ‘hidden homeless.’”

It is a 24-hour ‘Live-In-Your-Car-A-Thon where participants will gather sponsorships from friends and family and literally spend 24 hours sleeping and living out of a car. This unique event will take place on August 23 and 24 from 9 a.m. to 9 a.m. with participants parking their car and living out of them at the Pen Centre parking lot in St. Catharines, Ontario on the Zellers store side of the mall. Participants will pay a $24 registration fee and be asked to collect pledges for the 24 hours they spend living out of their cars.”

You can find out more about this unique fund-raising event, the services it will help support for Niagara’s homeless and how you can participate in the Car-A-Thon by visiting www.NFANiagara.com.

(Niagara At Large invites our readers to share their thoughts on this post below.)