Homelessness is a big problem that most people recognize as taking place only in large cities. I never could imagine someone in a small town being without a home or a roof over his or her head. In remote Native communities this is almost impossible as everyone is related to one another in some way and are able to find friends or family to take them in. Like most people I always thought homelessness was a problem that affected other places where there are more people, such as in big cities where there are more chances that this can become a reality.
Recently I learned from a friend of mine, Peter Sackaney, the Homelessness Coordinator for the Kapuskasing Friendship Centre, that people living without a place to call home do exist in small northern Ontario cities and towns. He explained to me that in the town of Kapuskasing people without homes are usually people going through many changes in their lives. There are those who are making the move to a new town and have to go through a period without a home before establishing themselves in the community. Some people are transient individuals or travellers who can not afford lodging for a night but want to move on the next day. People who are homeless sometimes don’t seem to fit into that category, they sometimes end up with a roof over their heads but not really a place to call home.
Many Native families live in small towns in northern non-Na-tive communities and have family members staying with them. These family members are from remote First Nations and are making the move to start a new life away from home. Although these family members are sheltered they do not have a place to call their own and sometimes create situations where too many people are living in one home. Sharing a home with other family members is part of the First Nation culture because it is a form of survival for my people that came from the traditional lifestyle on the land. Although sharing one’s home with others is still practised by many Native families today, too many people in one home can cause difficulty and stress for everyone.
To deal with these situations, the Kapuskasing Friendship Centre has taken the initiative to develop a new homelessness shelter in the town of Kapuskasing. On Wednesday June 5, 2002 the Kapuskasing Friendship Centre held a grand opening for a new building in Kapuskasing which has been designated as a new homelessness shelter for Native and non-Native individuals and families. Peter is the coordinator of this new initiative to help people find the assistance they need. The new shelter has already been open for a month because of the current demand.
The shelter is located in what is known as the east end of Kapuskasing and is a six-bed house with an office. The new service is being offered 24 hours a day and although Peter has taken on the initial workload by himself, a new employee has recently started. In the future, Peter hopes the shelter will receive more support to allow for more staff and services for its clientele. The project is being funded through a federal government program called the National Homelessness Initiative in part- nership with the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres. Peter informed me that the development of the project has received positive support from the town of Kapuskasing and Mayor J.C. Caron and town council.
The new shelter will provide lodging, three meals a day and use of laundry facilities for those who will use the service. The staff will also help people access services and programs that will give them the opportunity to start in a new direction through employment programs, medical help or other forms of additional assistance. Meegwetch to Peter, Ernie Fontaine, Aboriginal Healing And Wellness Coordinator who were part of the Aboriginal Homeless committee with others including Linda Sackaney, Helen Montgomery and James Timmins, Jr., Kapuskasing Friendship Centre Board Of Directors. Meegwetch also to the Kapuskasing Friendship Centre Board of Directors, Kapuskasing Mayor J.C. Caron, town council and the federal government for having the hearts and minds to make things easier for people. This is a trend we need to encourage.
