The community is working on many fronts to support the Coast’s homeless and honour Harry Paul, who died alone in the cold on a bench in Gibsons Nov. 14.
While news of Paul’s death sparked quick action by the province to fund the Coast’s only cold weather shelter until March, a full-time shelter and supportive housing is needed year-round.
To that end the Sunshine Coast Homelessness Advisory Committee has taken the need back to the province to see what can be done.
“There are very strong signs that BC Housing is willing to fund a year-round shelter,” said Clarence Li, member of the committee and reverend at St. Hilda’s Anglican Church, which houses the cold weather shelter in its annex building.
“We are working with BC Housing in terms of creating supportive housing with a facility that could have some extra shelter beds if needed. That is the dream. That we have a purpose built or renovated to purpose building that has six to eight supportive housing units and also has an area where we could have a few mats.”
He said that “dream picture” is being presented to BC Housing right now by the committee.
“Matt Thomson is our main contact with BC Housing, and Matt is doing the negotiations,” Li said.
To better support shelter clients currently coming to the shelter each night, a meal program is being organized by Rev. Allan Grochowski of Bethel Baptist Church that will see volunteers make dinners for guests nightly.
Volunteers can choose whether they want to stay and share the meal they’ve prepared with shelter guests, and Grochowski said both individuals and groups are welcome to sign up to help each week or on an as-needed basis.
If you want to get involved in the meal program, contact Grochowski at [email protected]
Li has donated his church and his services to put on a community memorial for Paul on Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. at St. Hilda’s Anglican Church in Sechelt in an effort to support Paul’s family and the community grieving Paul’s loss.
The whole Coast is invited and Li expects anywhere from 80 to 100 people to come out to the hour-long service, which will be followed by a reception in the church hall. Tea and coffee will be served by St. Hilda’s and the community is asked to bring finger foods and goodies to share in order to keep costs down.
“We’re also looking for a few helpers to clean up and help in the kitchen as well,” Li noted. If you want to help, just show up with a willing heart and let Li know he can use your services that day.
