Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Lighthouse Shelter expected to get 10 additional beds

Housing options are often limited for the homeless with serious mental health and addiction problems according to a regional report described by the Milton Canadian Champion inside Halton website. Housing options are often limited for the homeless with serious mental health and addiction problems a regional report revealed. The demand for a place to stay often outweighs the supply, with only four beds available in Halton for this “hard to house client group” through the Canadian Mental Health Association. In an effort to tackle the issue, Halton Region is partnering with CMHA to develop and implement a Safebeds program at Salvation Army’s Lighthouse Shelter in Oakville. The details of this partnership were revealed through a report prepared by the social and community services department and supported by the Region’s health and social services committee at its meeting Tuesday With regional council’s approval at its meeting May 29, program plans are expected to move ahead with the Oakville shelter poised to receive an additional 10 beds that will be exclusively available to individuals with mental health and addiction issues. Screening and admissions for the use of these beds will be done by CMHA, which will be funding the project and providing on-site 24-hour counseling permanently through two staff members. These counsellors will also be available to support the Salvation Army’s other clients that are housed in the existing 30 beds at the Lighthouse Shelter.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Join us for a Team Gathering on June 10

As a supporter of MTH, we are inviting you to come out to our regular bi-monthly gatherings to learn more about the housing crisis in Milton and Halton, and about MTH in particular. Our June speaker is Angela Chavez from the Halton Multicultural Council. HMC is a community-based settlement agency that provides a variety of programs and services to immigrant and refugee communities. Its staff and volunteers are dedicated to enabling every individual, regardless of race or ethnic origin, to participate as full and active members of the community through fostering mutual respect and understanding of one another. Angela's presentation will be about the work of HMC, which includes providing transitional housing. Following this presentation there will be an update on the latest news from MTH, introduction of Carolyn Dyck, Administrative Manager, as well as a gathering time to get to know each other If you are interested in hearing more about what we are doing, or getting more deeply involved as a volunteer, please join us on Monday, June 10 - Boston Presbyterian Church (9185 Third Line, Halton Hills).