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Marlene Berry of York Region Street Outreach and its van at No Frills in Stoufiville. troohoarlnmostn â€" (\sxmm WW ‘ llk’n growing. Together. MSH Foundation appreciates being your charity of choice. Every community event makes a significant contribution toward our m'm-m-‘o goal of raising $50 million towards our Hospital’s expansion. you to John 8: Sue Watts of Joe Badali’s in Toronto for raising $10,000! Special thanks to everyone involved for supporting Markham Stouffville Hospital. - SALES and SERVICE to ALL MAKES OF HEARING AIDS - ADP, VISIR, DVA AUTHORIZED DISPENSERS - Harm Anusmms - Newborn Io Garlatflo - Rum All EnIuIIom 0 m III III-rm AIII Accused» - Austin mm. Mm FIA System: 0 can Rum mum - Mulch» and Swim Plugs 0 TInnltus Thlnpy 0 NO CHARGE All IIICIIISI 0 NO CHARGE Ml Inclnsl 0 34 Day Full SIMS“ 0 Mock!“ WIIII E“ (I - Full Time Emu-ml On Hand To 80m You PARKI o Tinnitus Therapy - NO CHARGE All inclusin Lu: and Dam Mum -1 you 0 N0 CHARGEMI mum. hmm-Zm - 34 Day Fuii Sand-dim Gum - Associated Vlliii BIT (Elf, lose and MI!) m - Fuii Tim Emotional 00ml“ Accumu- I: Needles, advice, tents dispensed from van Her well-stocked customized van dispens- es bags of what she described as “transport- able food," including granola bars, muffins, juice, bottled water, fruit cups and other items people can take to go. help they need,” explained Ms Berry, noting the van makes 3,000 contacts and racks up more than 20,000 km across the entire region each year. The service is strictly confidential and not invasive, according to Ms Berry, who says great care is taken to respect each individual’s privacy and dignity. A call-back time is set depending on the van’s Stouflville-Markham run schedule, at which time a convenient “rendezvous point” - often a Tim Hortons, the public library or a shopping centre parking lot â€" is determined. People using the van aren't required to provide personal details aside from a first name. A recent call to the outreach hotline from a pay phone was greeted by a friendly and professional voice assuring the caller that help was available and they could even be called “Tom, Dick or Harry’ ’ if they wanted to The van, regulme in the area every Tues- day, serves all of York Region’s member municipalities and also provides support to those living in public housing complexes. Van workers are seeing a growing need in smaller, less populated communities. “We have a few regular Stoufivifle clients and we hope to spread the word here even more," said Ms Berry, who is aware of the increasing strain on local food banks and church outreach programs. Depending on a person’s needs, staff can also provide flesh needles, toiletries, tents, tarpaulins and warm blankets, sexual health supplies, medical advice as well as help gain- ing shelter and affordable housing. “We’re aWare that people may be reticent about being seen utilizing our van," she said. “We're even very discreet about where we park the van if we’re in a busy parking lot." remain anonymous. ’Clients don’t enter or travel in the van, but can be provided with transportation credits to help get them to emergency shelters or link DISCREET MEETINGSS them to other essential services. While Stoufiville is perceived as an afiuent town, Ms Wedlock notes the most recent cen- sus numbers réveal a slightly difierent story. According to 2006 statistics, six per cent of Whitchurchâ€"Stoufiville residents fell below the low-income cutofi point of $33,251 for a family of four. And 49 per cent of tenants spent more than the recommended 30 per- cent of gross annual income on housing. Funded by York Region, the street out- reach program is a partnership between sup- port agency LOFT / Crosslinks Community Services, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, along with York Region Pub- lic Health Services and Addiction Services. “These people are not necessarily living outside but they are precariously housed tem- porarily with friends or relatives," she said. This is the program’s 11th year and Ms Berry noted the majority of clients are males between the ages of 25 and 50. The photography show allowed atâ€"risk individuals across the region to document and share their experiences by using disposable cameras distributed by the outreach van and other agencies. The resulting images painted a gritty portrait of life on the streets and included scenes from downtown Stouffville. Several residents who have experienced homelessness shared their thoughts during the display: “Good idea. I am homeless and we need much more. I have waited 13 years for a subsidized apartment. . . " wrote one gal- lery visitor. Added another: “I was homeless for three months until two days ago, but being home in God kept me going. Earth is a fleeting home, but God’s home is not." STOUFFVILLE HOMELESS YRAEH executive director lane Wedlock is aware communities like Whitchurch~ Stoufl’ville also have residents who are “couch surfing" and part of the hidden homeless However, a memorable 2010 Latcham Gal- lery art exhibit publicized the fact that no one in Whitchurch-Stouffville is immune from the issue of homelessness. Hidden ln...Plain Sight â€" Living Home- less In York Region was organized in part by the York Region Alliance to End Homeless- ness (YRAEH), a coalition of groups working together to implement a strategic response to the issue in the region’s nine municipalities. [gm IE] The Audiology Centre Established 1986 1333 Sheppard AVG. E., Suite# 340 West End Hearing Established 1991 1243 Islington Ave.. 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