In late summer, Shelter House, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, saw an increased use of services by homeless individuals. The Executive Director, Patty Hajdu, thought ahead to the chilling temperatures that winter would likely bring. If the shelter’s 62 beds were filled in warmer months, what would be the demand for shelter when the cold weather set in? The idea she came up with, thanks to discussions with numerous partners, was Shelter House and the Cold Water Pilot Project. This pilot project has a unique advantage — its staff members have pre-existing relationships with the homeless community and other community partners.
In the latest edition of the Promising Practices series, EENet looks at Thunder Bay’s Cold Water Pilot Project, which is bringing emergency services to homeless and street-involved people with addictions. Read the full story on the EENet website.
Promising Practices profiles innovative practices and initiatives from around Ontario. To read other EENet clear language products, visit www.eenet.ca.