As rent prices and living expenses continue to rise in Windsor and across the country, more people in the local area are finding themselves without a place to live.
According to the City of Windsor, around 700 households in Windsor-Essex are experiencing some type of homelessness. Equipped with a goal of aiding our most vulnerable citizens, Saint Elizabeth Foundation and staff at the local service delivery centre are bringing support in innovative and collaborative ways within the community. Windsor’s Foundation Ambassadors organized a walk through the city’s downtown core on the evening of Saturday, March 9 where staff, family and friends distributed care packages with basic necessities to people experiencing homelessness – bringing a little bit of hope and happiness to those in need.
“Driving throughout the city, especially in and around downtown, you can’t help but notice that there are so many people within our community who need a little extra kindness and assistance in their time of need,” said Hana Irving, Director of Philanthropic Programs for Saint Elizabeth Foundation. “The fact that our local staff recognized this need and organized direct outreach activities like this walk is a testament to their continued commitment to helping the most vulnerable and marginalized in Windsor-Essex.”
The Saint Elizabeth Foundation Ambassador program engages frontline staff to educate the public and their co-workers about Foundation programs to meaningfully embody its social impact work. Those who participated in the walk not only distributed items to people experiencing homelessness, but also collected pledges which will be directed to Windsor’s satellite Journey Home Hospice location. Journey Home Hospice is a three-bed facility located on Sandwich Street which offers palliative care to people experiencing homelessness and structural vulnerability.
“It is important for me to be in this Ambassador role so that I can lead by example,” said SE Health’s Anna Iacoboni, organizer of the walk. “I want others to know that SE will always be there for those in need, and right now, unfortunately, we have a lot of people in need in Windsor. I am so glad that the Winter Wonderland Walk will help our local Journey Home Hospice and the homeless in our community.”
With many factors contributing to homelessness – including unprecedented numbers of Canadians living paycheque to paycheque, undiagnosed mental illness, substance use and domestic violence – this two-pronged approach of direct outreach and 24/7 specialized residential palliative care is a vital tool helping to drive referrals for the community-based, socially innovative model of care JHH uses to operate.
“With over 115 years of experience coupled with the ever-increasing need for services, we feel compelled to continue offering a helping hand to those most in need,” said Irving. “We are thrilled to announce that the local staff raised a total of over $4,500 that will help to fund our local Journey Home Hospice as we provide a home and care for people experiencing homelessness on their journey home.”