What’s happening?
The Seniors Services Society is raising funds to support hungry, hurting and homeless seniors through its annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk on Saturday, Feb. 24 at River Market, 810 Quayside Dr. Registration opens at 4 p.m., the opening ceremonies are at 5 p.m., the walk begins at 5:15 p.m. and registration closes at 6 p.m. A light meal will be served to all walkers and volunteers beginning at 6 p.m., with the route closing and meal service ending at 8 p.m.
How far will I walk?
A number of options are available, so you can walk two, five or 10 kilometres. Folks who may have physical limitations and still want to participate can still participate via a short indoor route at River Market.
How is the Seniors Services Society involved in homelessness?
As the only agency in Metro Vancouver that works exclusively with homeless and at-risk seniors, the society is familiar with the increasing number of seniors who are at risk of homelessness or are homeless.
Kara-Leigh Bloch, executive director of the Seniors Services Society, said the 2017 homelessness count in Metro Vancouver showed that 21 per cent of the homeless population is now people over the age of 55.
“That is just huge,” she said. “Seniors are fighting for very low vacancy rates, and they are fighting being on a fixed income. What’s happening is their incomes aren’t going up proportionately to the cost of living and their rental increases, so they are just being priced out of the market.”
How can I help?
People can support the Coldest Night of the Year by registering and taking part in the walk, volunteering at the event or donating to a walker or team. The Coldest Night of the Year walk is free for kids up to age 10, $25 (or raise a minimum of $75) for youth aged 11 to 17, and $25 (or raise a minimum of $150) for adults aged 18 and older. The registration fee rises to $40 on Monday, Feb. 19. All participants who pay the fee or raise the minimum will get a Coldest Night of the Year toque.
What’s this year’s goal?
Having raised $33,000 in 2017, the society’s goal is to raise $35,000 at this year’s walk. It’s raising money for the homeless outreach program, which offers a full-time outreach worker who works specifically with seniors aged 60 and older who are homeless, street-entrenched, living in their car, a hotel or shelter, or at immediate risk of losing their current housing.
“The outreach worker is basically tasked with stabilizing their health, stabilizing their finances and social supports, and then ultimately finding alternate long-term appropriate housing,” Bloch said. “It’s a big job.”
It’s a small walk, said Bloch, but it has a big impact in terms of being able to house seniors.
Because of staff limitations, the society had to inform more than 600 at-risk seniors that the three fulltime case workers’ caseloads were maxxed out and they couldn’t provide them with any outreach services.
Tell me about the Seniors Services Society:
Working in partnership with all levels of government, community service organizations and local businesses, the New Westminster-based society offers a variety of programs to support seniors, including those who are struggling with poverty, isolation and homelessness in the Lower Mainland.
“We raise funds and awareness to combat the plight of homeless seniors, and in terms of statistics, last year we served 268 homeless and at risk seniors across B.C.’s Metro Vancouver, and housed 65,” Bloch said. “Seniors in New Westminster make up 30 per cent of our homeless senior referrals.”
More details, please:
For details about the walk, go to cnoy.org/location/newwestminster.
