NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release:
(April 12, Sudbury) – It was a busy winter for the Off The Street (OTS) Emergency Shelter, which closes for the season this Saturday.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Sudbury/Manitoulin Branch launched operations of the 30-bed facility in late November (stats up to March 31). Since then:
- CMHA has worked with partners to find permanent housing for 32 individuals.
- An average of 57 people used the shelter services nightly, including an average of 27 for sleeping.
- There were more than 6,800 total visits to shelter, including 3,225 overnight stays.Housing and homelessness remain significant barriers to an individual’s recovery. Therefore, securing permanent housing for more than 30 people this winter is a significant benefit of CMHA’s involvement in the shelter operation.
“As a provider of housing programs in this community for more than 30 years, we’ve developed positive working relationships with local partners. This means that the individuals we serve benefit from the hard work of different organizations working together,” said Marion Quigley, CEO, CMHA Sudbury/Manitoulin.
As lead agency for the Greater Sudbury Health Link, CMHA has close connections to health and social service organizations and can provide individuals with referrals and connections to other local supports.
Through OTS Emergency Shelter, CMHA staff and community partners were able to provide individuals with more than 1,100 connections to 42 community-based services. These referrals helped individuals access supports that included housing, outreach services, plus medical, psychosocial and counseling services.
Based on its positive experience this year, CMHA Sudbury/Manitoulin is hoping to run the shelter next year in order to continue supporting vulnerable individuals in the community.
CMHA wishes to thank all those individuals and organizations that supported the OTS Emergency Shelter this season. Donors provided food, blankets, clothing, toiletries and other items for individual use. Special thank you to the Canadian Red Cross, Sudbury Office and l’Association des jeunes de la rue, for their assistance.
Fast Facts:
- OTS Emergency Shelter is an enhancement to the existing 64 emergency shelter beds that the City of Greater Sudbury funds for men, women and children, and youth.
- A recent Laurentian University study found that the number of people who are homeless or at risk of homeless in the city has more than doubled since 2009.
- The study found 1,540 people in Greater Sudbury were either homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless during the period.
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For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Cindy Rose
Manager, Off the Street Emergency Shelter
Canadian Mental Health Association – Sudbury/Manitoulin
Office: 705-675-7252
Email: crose@cmha-sm.on.ca
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