THUNDER BAY – Shelter House has raised about 30 per cent of its $200,000 target to ensure the Street Outreach Services program can operate year-round.
On Monday the homeless program got an added boost, revealing they’ll be the recipient of money raised at this year’s Mayor’s Mulligan golf tournament, which is expected to help them pull in up to $25,000 more than the $59,000 already collected.
Gary Mack, Shelter House’s executive director, called it welcome news.
“We are thrilled and very grateful to the mayor for making us the charity for the Mayor’s Mulligan this year,” Mack said.
In March, Shelter House officials said they would be forced to temporarily suspend the program as of April 1, 2017, promising to reinstate it in late fall when colder weather returns.
According to statistics provided by the organization at the time, the SOS program provided 4,923 rides and gave out 21,696 amenities, including blankets, coats, food and water, to those in need.
Mack said the program plays a vital role in the community.
“It helps homeless people that are in crisis,” Mack said. “It responds 12 hours a day, from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. People will phone SOS if they see someone that’s in trouble, a homeless person and the SOS team will respond and take that person to the appropriate place.
“It might be the hospital. It might be back to the shelter. They also patrol areas where homeless people tend to congregate.”
He shudders to think where the city’s homeless population – and particularly the most vulnerable of that subset – would be without the SOS program.
“That is the question,” Mack said. “It is more taxing on other services, particularly police services and emergency services and hospital services.”
Mack said the goal is to have the program up and running as soon as possible, adding he’s hopeful enough government and private-sector funding will be available to keep it active on an ongoing, permanent basis.
The Mayor’s Mulligan tournament is scheduled for Aug. 25 at Chapples Golf Course.
Mayor Keith Hobbs said he was happy to lend his name to the cause.
“I can’t think of a cause in Thunder Bay that needs it more at this time. The SOS program is a vital service in our community and I hope that others can also step up to ensure that SOS is back up and running as soon as possible,” Hobbs said in a release.
