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Emergency shelter returns in Canmore, Bow Valley

“I think it surprised everyone that we had that sort of uptake. We’ve heard from our partners like hospitals and members of the community that there was nowhere to take people, especially in the dead of night in winter when it’s cold. This is a real need for us. Those are the kind of pieces that we found running the program last year.”
20220303 Shelter1
Following a successful pilot program, the emergency shelter program has returned and has the aim of expanding in the near future. Hosted at St. Michael's Anglican Church on Seventh Avenue in Canmore, the program returned earlier in February and is set to run until the end of March. From left: Amber Forest, the director of the Homeless Society of the Bow Valley, and Raychill Snider, an outreach worker. GREG COLGAN RMO PHOTO

CANMORE – Following a successful pilot program, the emergency shelter program has returned and has the aim of expanding in the near future.

Hosted at St. Michael’s Anglican Church on Seventh Avenue in Canmore, the program returned earlier in February and is set to run until the end of March.

“It started with the idea that we have really frigid temperatures in the valley, so the program is designed to deal with the temperature aspect of it. But it does end up supporting folks in other ways too,” said Amber Forest, the director of the program.

“Even if the temperature isn't really cold, it can still be quite frigid outside. … The hope is eventually down the road that we'll be able to be accessible all year round.”

A survey at the end of last year’s program also found an overwhelming majority felt the program was both necessary and supported by the community.

“Eighty per cent of people who responded to the survey said they thought there was a need in the community and that they were happy to see the shelter,” she said.

Forest said people come from different areas of the valley to use the shelter and that some are temporary residents, while others have been locals for longer periods of time. She noted they’ve already seen an increase in people compared to last year, which is due to multiple factors such as COVID-19 financial impacts, the harsh weather and more people knowing about the shelter.

She added some people stay as short as one or two nights, but there have been cases of people needing to use the shelter for a longer period.

The program – known last year as the resident emergency shelter temporary (REST) – is now known as the Homeless Society of the Bow Valley. The name change was due to the organization’s ongoing process of registering as a society with the province that would allow for them to apply for additional funding. The REST name had already been registered as a society.

The group has also incorporated a new board in anticipation of receiving the society approval. A fund development committee and a public relations committee has also been created.

Forest said if they’re able to reach a sustainable level of funding, they could expand the hours of being open to start this October and run until March 2023.

The funding would help pay for the roughly eight existing staff members, who work in three overnight shifts. The organization also has a contract with a security company that visits the church five times a night.

The evening has two people complete the intake of guests, while there’s one person overnight. However, the aim is to have two people stay overnight.

Forest said a benefit is being able to pass along local services in the valley that could help guests, but that nothing is pushed on people since the emphasis is on building relationships.

“If someone is looking for warm clothes, for example, we can refer them to Crossway [Community Thrift Store]. We also have items on-site such as gloves, scarves, hats that they can look at.”

From Oct. 13 to Nov. 12, 2020, a survey was completed to examine people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity in the valley.

The survey had 112 be completed and used to formulate the 2020 Canmore/Banff rural housing and service needs estimation report.

The report concluded that 145 people were living in the valley in insecure housing, which was an increase from 85 people in the 2018 study.

Among the suggestions from the 2020 report was establishing an overnight shelter and growing further awareness on homelessness and housing instability.

The program began up-and-running again on Dec. 6 with the cold weather program using hostels and hotels during the intense cold snap that hit the valley.

The physical space at St. Michael’s returned Feb. 7 and will run until March 31.

The hours allow people to come in between 8 and 11 p.m., but in mid-March, the hours will shift to a 9 p.m. open with the check-in taking place from 9:30-11 p.m. and referrals accepted by phone or email until 1 a.m. People using the service will be expected to leave by 7:30 a.m.

People can self-refer, but community partners are the main referrer to the site.

Forest said they ask for people to call or email in advance to hold a spot.

The physical shelter space was able to operate in due part because of a $70,000 grant from the Rural Development Network. Forest said they also receive donations and that Canmore Food and Friends leave some meals after their regular Monday dinner. They also have a community partnership with Mountain Fire Foods.

The Bow Valley Food Bank also provided a grant of $1,500 to help with coffee cards for guests to use and a place to go early in the morning after the shelter closes.

Forest noted when they first began the pilot program in 2021, they weren’t sure what type of use the shelter would receive. However, as time went along, the was definitely a need.

“I think it surprised everyone that we had that sort of uptake. We’ve heard from our partners like hospitals and members of the community that there was nowhere to take people, especially in the dead of night in winter when it’s cold,” she said. “This is a real need for us. Those are the kind of pieces that we found running the program last year.”

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