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l yiewpoim ting Students enjoying new innovative literacy program. WATERLOO CHRONICLE W HA 1 "t 5 INSIDE SCHOOLS Page 9 10 More women coming 'Out of the Cold' he fare of homelessness has started In I change for volunteers of the local (Jul of the Cold program, with more women joining the men for overnight stays in the emergency shelters sol up hy local churches through the win- ter months. But one thing has also remained rnnsmnt since the program was first founded eight years ago w the number of people on the sm‘ms with addiction or mental health issues and the lack of supports in place to help them. Catherine Savage, nnv of the original founders. of the program with her husband Michael. said the Friday-night First United Church site saw its first spike in guests with the winter storm that blow thmugh the region last week. Tho program officially started Nov. l. but it wasnt until wmter's first real blast that beds wrn- close In nvcrfhnsing at the churrh on William Street in uptown Golden Hawk Andrew Baechler makes the plunge across the goal line to score Wilfrid Laurier University's first touchdown n a thrilling 24-23 comeback win over the Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton. The Hawks scored nine points in the game's final three minutes to bring home the school's first Vanier Cup title since 1991. For more game coverage and stories, see page 26. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2005 By Ban Vanamr C1Tyrifle gulfi Serving your community since 1856 Waterloo, The rather Waterloo locations are St. lohn's Lutheran on Willow Street on Thursday night and BL Innis. Roman Catholic on Allen Street on Sun- day night. What started mu as a two-month program eight years ago will now be extended to five-and- a-half months at most locations. Savage said First Unilcd Church will keep its door open for the first time until April 14. Good Friday. because the real- ity is that Canadian springs can still be quite cold. "By the end of March it was still "in cold to close the church's doors." said Savage. Savage said although there are some familiar faces still using the service, she's surprised by the number of new people. l'spvcially wnnwn. now staying overnight. The prohlem of homelessness traditionally has a male face. bul women and won families an- nnw being caught up in the cycle nfpnvony. "We'vc got mun: women you thdstrvers," said Savage. "We still have a lot mum males that WATERLOO, ONTARIO Date with destiny SI INCLUDING GST females, but it's something that our community should be aware of. Though the workers don't we the Children. thv numlmr of youth who new the sxtrvKe can iluctu- ate year 10 year, "I also undersmnd there's more homeless chile dren am there, hm we don't we thcm." "That's what's really sad to we is the youth on the street," said Savage. "You don't know the sltr ries behind it. and smut years their numbers can he a real problem." The vohmtevrs arr hearing about a few more supports in place in the community for some of the pruplc they help. hut there ary still gaps in the local social safety net. Swag? talked about a new drug and mental health prngram for street kids in Kitchener, although the Region of Waterloo has identificd the nm-d fur a "WM" shvltrr for drug and alcohol abusers. First United Churrh's thit (If the Cold prngram Continued on page 5 “Cl! will DHM’VEW PHOTO