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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, May 21, 2010 · 8 Salvation Army shows the reality of poverty By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Even in an affluent community like Oakville, there is homelessness. On Wednesday, the Salvation Army opened the doors to its Halton Lighthouse shelter in Oakville to shed light on the local and national problem of homelessness. The spotlight they shone on the problem was illuminating. According to the Salvation Army, 584 individuals, mostly from the Burlington and Oakville areas, used the shelter in 2009. The Lighthouse shelter provides people with up to 30 days of accommodation, free of charge, while they try to find a home. "We want people to come in here, get the help that they need and move on with their lives," said Dan Millar, Salvation Army spokesperson, at the open house Wednesday, May 19. "When this place was built, nobody thought we needed a shelter in Oakville," he said. He added that whenever a shelter is built anywhere, it brings out a fear in local residents about what it might do to the neighbourhood. Despite the criticisms against shelters, they are needed. Sally Ann operates some 450 shelters in Canada alone, and Millar noted they are constantly filled up. According to a Salvation Army survey, one in nine MICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVER SHELTER TOUR: Karen Tkaczyk, residential program facilitator at the Halton Lighthouse, shows visitors a hygiene package, which residents may receive when living at the shelter. Canadians, or 3 million people, have either experienced or come close to experiencing homelessness in their lifetime. The local shelter can accommodate 25 people (15 men and 10 women) but it is generally full. The shelter will begin using bunk beds in its rooms soon in order to increase capacity. "This event is to make people aware that there are shelters around, they're available, but they're full because there is such a great need," Millar said. He added that the recession has increased the need for shelter use, locally and across the country. The open house had presentations from community partners who, either do similar work to the Salvation Army or work with it, to help people find work, to help people with psychological needs and others. "They're very important," Millar said of the agencies that work with the Salvation Army. "Everybody working together is better than somebody doing it alone." Users at the Lighthouse shelter are able to stay for 30 days, unless they are kicked out, either temporarily or indefinitely, for violating rules. To be kicked out indefinitely, it is usually as a result of violence in the shelter. Users receive food and have resources available to them to help them find work and are provided with bus tickets to help them get to a job centre or workplace. Individuals who make no efforts to find work or accommodations may also be kicked out temporarily. Of the 584 users locally, 32 per cent have found accommodations. However, not included in the percentage are people -- generally youths -- who return back home. The shelter is available to individuals 16 and over. To be admitted into the shelter, an individual needs a referral from the region. The shelter is funded 62 per cent by the region while the remainder comes from donations, grants and partners. For more information, visit www.salvationarmyoakville.ca/shelter.htm. For the Health of Our Community Thank you to the sponsors and planning committee who are supporting the 5th annual BMO Nesbitt Burns OTMH Regatta. Since the inception of the OTMH Regatta, more than $80,000 has been raised which has purchased essential medical equipment for OTMH. This year's Regatta is taking place on Saturday, June 19 at the Bronte Harbour Yacht Club. The Regatta's success is dependent upon our community's support. Please support the 2010 BMO Nesbitt Burns OTMH Regatta today by registering your boat, collecting pledges or making a donation online at www.otmhregatta.com. To learn more about our community partner programs please visit www.oakvillehospitalfoundation.com Thank you for the health of our community.