Burnaby Homeless Task Force » Uncategorized

Extreme Weather Alert December 5th, 6th, 2011

Editor — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:35:29 +0000

The Burnaby Extreme Weather Response Team has called an Extreme Weather Alert for

December 5th, 6th, 2011 at 7 pm

SHELTERING SPACES ARE AT:

Westminster Bible Chapel

7540 – 6th Street, Burnaby

Opens at 7 p.m.

IF YOU ARE SLEEPING OUTSIDE,

PLEASE COME TO THE SHELTER!

The Church is on the 106 bus line from Metrotown and 123 bus line from Brentwood

WESTMINSTER BIBLE CHAPEL,

7540 – 6TH STREET, BURNABY

Extreme Weather Alert December 2,3,4, 2011

Editor — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:00:18 +0000

The Burnaby Extreme Weather Response Team has called an Extreme Weather Alert for

December 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 2011 at 7 pm

SHELTERING SPACES ARE AT:

Westminster Bible Chapel

7540 – 6th Street, Burnaby

Opens at 7 p.m.

IF YOU ARE SLEEPING OUTSIDE,

PLEASE COME TO THE SHELTER!

The Church is on the 106 bus line from Metrotown and 123 bus line from Brentwood

WESTMINSTER BIBLE CHAPEL,

7540 – 6TH STREET, BURNABY

Extreme Weather Alert November 30, 2011

Editor — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:03:26 +0000

The Burnaby Extreme Weather Response Team

has called an Extreme Weather Alert for Nov. 30 at 7 pm

SHELTERING SPACES ARE AT:

Westminster Bible Chapel

7540 – 6th Street, Burnaby

Opens at 7 p.m.

IF YOU ARE SLEEPING OUTSIDE,

PLEASE COME TO THE SHELTER!

The Church is on the 106 bus line from Metrotown and 123 bus line from Brentwood

WESTMINSTER BIBLE CHAPEL,

7540 – 6TH STREET, BURNABY

Extreme Weather Response

Editor — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:50:57 +0000

Burnaby Extreme Weather Response Committee

WE NEED YOU!

Help homeless people keep warm when winter weather puts them at high health risk.

Extreme Weather Alerts are called when

Its O degrees C or colder

There is significant snow accumulation

Lives or health of homeless individuals are at extreme risk due to severe weather conditions

Whenever needed, volunteers are called to work with experienced staff and help with:

Preparing and serving supper and early morning meal

Setting up and taking down sheltering areas

Offering overnight supervision and support

Training and support provided for all volunteers.

You can help

Resister by contacting

Kevan Oxley at 604-515-2728

Why volunteer?

Does it really make a difference?

By volunteering at the Burnaby Emergency Shelter, you help a network of agencies and individuals help local homeless people survive the coldest and most miserable winter nights.

A mat in a warm, safe place, some dinner and a few friendly faces offer hope to people who have little. Something as simple as playing a game of cards or listening to the stories told by guests can bring joy. Gentle compassion, literally “walking with and for others” is evident in laughter — and sometimes tears — shared with each other. It is not an understatement to say that sometimes we really do save lives!

Two years ago at the Burnaby EWR Shelter, we took an unwell guest to hospital and we were there with him when he received a diagnosis of cancer — which meant that he could begin treatments. Another night one guest experienced a horrific asthma attack. When the paramedics arrived, we were told that she would never have survived if that attack had happened on the street. That REALLY made a difference!

Burnaby Extreme Weather Response Committee

Thank you to Creekside

Editor — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:39:05 +0000

Thank you to Creekside Community Church for hosting a very successful drive for blankets, toiletries, and warm winter wear for our neighbors who are living in extreme poverty and homelessness.

The donated items were delivered to the Progressive Housing Society who operate the Homeless Outreach Program for Burnaby.

Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness

Creekside Community Church Helps Burnaby’s Most Vulnerable Prepare for Winter

Editor — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:02:57 +0000

BURNABY – Creekside Community Church has partnered with the Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness to help address some of the urgent needs facing Burnaby residents who are ill equipped to deal with the onset of winter due to issues of poverty and homelessness.

“There are far too many Burnaby citizens who are living in extreme poverty, or who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Faith Communities wishing to assist vulnerable people during the winter season need look no farther than our own neighbors,” said Wanda Mulholland of the Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness.

“We have a long legacy in Burnaby of Faith Communities coming forward to assist vulnerable Burnaby citizens in so many practical ways”, stated Mulholland. “From providing food, blankets, sleeping bags and tarps, to collecting clothing or hotel toiletries for the Progressive Housing Society Homeless Outreach Program and the Extreme Weather Shelter operated by Lookout Society, the Faith Community have been there. Without this support these programs would not be able to provide effective assistance.”

Creekside Community Church invites any interested persons to join in a festive gathering of supplies for those in need on Saturday October 29th between 10:30am and 12 noon at West Burnaby United Church 6050 Sussex Avenue. There will be entertainment and refreshments available for people as they drop off their donations.

The most urgent needs at this time include: warm blankets, winter coats, winter gloves, hotel sized toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, lotion, bars of soap, toothpaste) razors, toothbrushes, men’s underwear (sizes small, medium, large), one zone fare savers, and tuna and crackers lunch to go packages.

Thank You to Mayor Corrigan

Editor — Wed, 04 May 2011 00:57:11 +0000

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness, I would like to publically thank Mayor Corrigan for visiting Progressive Housing Society’s Outreach Resource Centre on Thursday April 21^st. Mayor Corrigan brought cookies for everyone as he toured the facility and shared conversation with the staff and volunteers that operate and facilitate the Outreach Resource Centre each Thursday morning. Mayor Corrigan’s visit was warmly welcomed and greatly appreciated.

Mayor Corrigan’s visit at the Outreach Resource Centre followed one week after people in attendance at the Outreach Resource Centre participated in the survey process for Burnaby’s newly created Social Sustainability Strategy.

Burnaby’s Outreach Resource Centre opened in November 2006 and provides food, clothing outreach worker support and access to medical care for those citizens living in extreme poverty and dealing with homelessness. The Outreach Resource Centre is operated by the Progressive Housing Society, a member of the Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness.

Again, on behalf of the Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness, I wish to express our gratitude for Mayor Corrigan’s interest in the Outreach Resource Centre. It was heart-warming to see our City’s Mayor genuinely interested in the welfare of our most vulnerable citizens.

The Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness is committed to working with all levels of government, the health authority, social service agencies, business, faith communities, and concerned citizens to ensure the provision of housing, support services, and adequate income for Burnaby residents who are without housing or at risk of homelessness in Burnaby. www.burnabyhomelesstaskforce.org

Working together to end homelessness in Burnaby.

Wanda Mulholland

Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness

Additional Response From Federal Conservative Candidate Paul Forseth Burnaby New Westminster

Editor — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 23:05:22 +0000

Paul Forseth Conservative Candidate. I answer all three task force questions with a single response.

The other Candidates have made well-intentioned sentiments, but I am the only one if elected, capable to act beyond the speeches. The community needs me as a government MP to get things done.

If the NDP is elected in Burnaby-New Westminster, it will not help the homelessness issue. Federally, the NDP can only complain but cannot implement anything, and they are not usually held accountable for their often financially uncosted wish lists. If am elected, I can ensure that assigned federal funds is protected and delivered. I also have a Parliamentary record as a cross-party collaborator, for example the time I did a joint press conference with NDP Svend Robinson on the non-partisan issue of leaky condos.

Housing and homelessness programs are intended to support the homeless, those at risk of homelessness, low income Canadians, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal Canadians.

Funding for the Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI), the housing renovation programs, including the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP), and the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) are part of my Conservative government commitments.

On September 4, 2008, the Government of Canada reaffirmed funding for housing and homelessness programs at $387.9 million per year for five years to March 31, 2014. There will be additional enhancements as new funding becomes available, if the current wise fiscal conservative approach is maintained for the nation.

If elected , I will continue my collaborative approach. During our past consultation processes, participants expressed a great deal of support for the community-based approach of the government’s homelessness programming, and I will ensure the government will maintain this approach. It will also work to strengthen relationships with provinces and territories, building on successful partnerships to date.

Other program enhancements that I will be mindful of if I am elected:
◦greater support for rural and remote communities;
◦ensuring culturally relevant programming and services for Aboriginal people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness;
◦developing linkages on mental health and homelessness;
◦increasing the relevance and dissemination of research;
◦reinforcing accountability for results; and
◦improving data sharing and collection to improve targeted planning.

My candidacy offers a reality that can be delivered beyond mere nice sounding sentiments on this important and difficult issue, that governments of all stripes across Canada are dealing with.

Questionnaire for Burnaby’s Federal Candidates

Editor — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:56:39 +0000

Questionnaire for Federal Candidates

The Vision of the Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness:

Canada is a country in which all of its citizens have access to adequate and affordable housing, community support, and adequate income.

The Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness is committed to working with all levels of government, the health authority, social service agencies, business, faith communities, and concerned citizens to ensure the provision of housing, support services, and adequate income for Burnaby residents who are without housing or at risk of homelessness in Burnaby.

The Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness has compiled this questionnaire for distribution to all candidates seeking to represent Burnaby as a Member of Parliament. The results from this questionnaire will be posted on the task force website. www.burnabyhomelesstaskforce.org

Thank you for your consideration regarding this important issue.

We look forward to your response.

Any questions contact Wanda Mulholland via info@burnabyhomelesstaskforce.org

Please respond by email by April 11^th, 2011.

Background Information

The United Nations has declared housing and homelessness in Canada a national emergency.

Canada is the only G8 country without a national housing strategy.

The 2008 Homeless Count reports the number of people in Burnaby who are dealing with homelessness to have risen by 110% in three years.

Issues of extreme poverty and homelessness continue to be a reality for many Burnaby citizens and create many obstacles for citizens to have their basic needs met: specifically housing, adequate income and supports.

Burnaby is one of a very few municipalities in the Lower Mainland which does not have short term/transitional housing for people, especially males who are dealing with homelessness.

In light of these facts please answer the following questions:

1) If elected as a Member of Parliament what will you do to ensure that Canada reinstates a National Housing Strategy?

2) If elected as a Member of Parliament what initiatives will you implement to work collaboratively with the Provincial Government of British Columbia and the City of Burnaby Municipal Council to ensure that short term/transitional housing is opened in Burnaby specifically for people who are dealing with homelessness?

3) If elected as a Member of Parliament what initiatives will you implement to work collaboratively with the Provincial Government of British Columbia and the City of Burnaby Municipal Council to increase the supply of affordable housing in Burnaby for low income people?

4) What is your party’s position on addressing homelessness?

Extreme Weather Alert Stood Down for Feb 10, 2011

Editor — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:58:12 +0000

Burnaby Extreme Weather Sheltering Response

The Extreme Weather Response has been Stood Down for:

Thursday February 10, 2011

The emergency-only sleeping spaces have been closed.

Please ensure that this information is posted and remove all ‘open’ posters

We will inform you prior to noon of the next date the Extreme Weather Program is implemented.

Thank you for your help and support!

Burnaby Extreme Weather Response

Committee of the Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness