THUNDER BAY – With the end of winter, so comes the end of this season's Care Bus program.
Winter can be harsh and cold in Thunder Bay, and that's why the Care Bus operated by NorWest Community Health Centres assists the city's vulnerable population by offering free transportation, shelter, and connections to health and social services.
“I think the bus is a critical service and that's what we have seen demonstrated in the last number of years here in Thunder Bay,” said Trina Diner, director of health services at Norwest Community Health Centres.
“It's visible and it's something that people are comfortable with. I think that's the real success and we want to see it continue.”
The Care Bus saw a roughly 68-per-cent increase in use this season with more people also utilizing services offered through the bus rather than just needing somewhere to stay warm.
“We definitely had a lot of increased access this year, which really speaks to the needs in our community - and we had some really exciting things kind of happening on the bus,” said Diner.
“We had one individual who actually jumped on the bus and went to a job interview and got a job from accessing the services. In terms of numbers, we did see that increase - we had over 10,000 interactions.”
The initiative is a partnership with the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship centre supported by the Métis Nation of Ontario and was also provided with funding from the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board and Lakehead Social Planning Council.
To celebrate another successful year, NorWest Community Health Centres is hosting an event at Howl at the Moon featuring free chilly dogs on May 3 at 7 p.m., open to all staff, community members and community organizations.
