Croydon homeless shelter

It was an interesting night last night helping out in a homeless shelter in Croydon, London in the UK. There were fourteen male cleints and as many helpers. It was the second week of the 'floating shelter' that runs from November through til March during the colder months of the year in the UK. Floating because every night the shelter is provided by a different church across the London Borough of Croydon. The homeless have to crisscross the Croydon area to the shelter for the following night. They can get a travel card to save them the £4.40 to catch 2 buses. One of the clients did have one for the following day and was appealing to the organisers to help him get a new Oyster card. There was one gentleman who did not speak English. One of the organisers had emailed in advance to his congregation and had 5 people volunteer within 24 hours to come down as an interpreter or translator into Polish. It was interesting to see the paperwork for benefits this gentleman had received via a Salvation Army address but was unable to read and understand or speak to them by phone. They had a three course dinner and warm night.

Champion interview

The Milton Canadian Champion have asked me for an interview next week to learn more about the progress of our Milton Transitional Housing project. I hope to have an announcement for them as well as gain their support to publicise 'The Christmas Carol' dramatic reading by Jim Curran on December 9th. Please keep two tickets for me too!

Homeless Shelter in London, UK

There is a steering group meeting tonight in Milton for Home Suite Hope Milton but I am in London, UK, instead, heading off to help at a homeless shelter. More news to follow

Homeless issue is no apparition

As temperatures fall, we switch to winter tires and we warm our houses in preparation for Christmas festivities we should reflect of those at risk of homelessness within our own Milton community. Home Suite Hope Milton is hosting CBC personality Jim Curran reading of a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”.

“We are delighted that we will be able to place the individual or family in the first unit before the snow and during 2011 as the original project team had committed to”, said Wendy Schau the latest new director of Milton Transitional Housing Corp. which runs the Home Suite Hope project. Wendy added; “We are fortunate to have Jim Curran adding his humour and interpretation to this famous Christmas tale about those who are vulnerable and in need in our community.”

The evening of funraising entertainment is complemented by the Milton Players Theatre Group and singers from the Milton Choristers at Southside Community Church, Derry Road, on Friday December 9th at 7.30pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance from tickets.hshm@gmail.com or www.miltonchristianchurches.ca by clicking on ‘A Christmas Carol tickets’; Adults $20, children $10 or a family $50 with space is limited to the first 300 people.

The team is hoping to shortly appoint an Administrative Coordinator consultant, to provide leadership of the activities of the project providing shelter in the Milton unit which has recently been leased. The role is made possible by a two-year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. As well, funding from the grant will be used for communications, rental costs and the program delivery for the initiative. The grant was made to the Milton Area Christian Churches Working Together (MACCWT). Disappointingly, the team did not receive funding from the Region and expects to hear shortly whether it has been successful with the Town of Milton Community Fund for capital for computers and office furniture. Home Suite Hope Milton is working in collaboration with Home Suite Hope Shared Living Corp (HSH) in Oakville, which is providing services to identify and screen individuals or families to support for the initiative.