Seniors Services Society in New Westminster is taking funding matters into its own hands to ensure homeless seniors aren't left out in the cold.
The society, which is struggling with a lack of government funding, hosted a launch party last Thursday for a fundraising walk to help homeless seniors.
"The need for services for homeless seniors is rising, and the amount of funding to meet those needs is going down," said Brian Dodd, the interim executive director of Seniors Services Society. "We've taken the steps to look for ways to support and sustain our homeless outreach program, and this initiative just looked like a great way for us to get involved in a national program, where all the funds raised in our community come back to our initiatives."
About 15 to 20 people attended the launch party to celebrate The Coldest Night of the Year, an annual fundraising walk to help the hungry and homeless across Canada.
Seniors Services Society is the only organization that specifically helps seniors across the Lower Mainland who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Following changes to the federal government's homelessness funding priorities, Seniors Services Society has not been able to secure enough funding to help seniors who are homeless for the first time.
"Unless we get on board and look for ways to fill in the gaps, seniors who are either first time homeless or at risk of homelessness are going to be overlooked," Dodd said.
On Jan. 1, Seniors Services Society had to lay off one of its homeless outreach workers due to funding shortages.
"It's upsetting because we see people fall through the cracks. We are already saying to people who are calling us for support services, we can only take people who are in the most dire positions," Dodd said. "Luckily we are in a community that really cares, and we are able to launch this fundraiser with fairly short notice."
An Ontario non-profit organizes the annual walk, but this year is the first for Seniors Services Society to participate. The local organization is hoping to raise $25,000 to help house Metro Vancouver seniors.
The New Westminster walk takes place on Saturday, Feb. 21 along the waterfront, starting and ending at River Market. (River Market is one of the sponsors, and the merchants will be providing hot drinks, chili and fresh bread for participants.)
The walk is two, five or 10 kilometres. People collect donations on behalf of their teams, and about 10 or 12 teams have already signed up and raised $6,000 collectively, which is a third of the overall goal.
More than 80 communities across the country are participating in The Coldest Night of the Year in 2015.
New Westminster's new mayor Jonathan Cote and MLA Judy Darcy attended Thursday's launch event and donned toques from the campaign. Coun. Bill Harper also attended.
"They expressed their overwhelming support, not only for the fundraiser but our organization and our need right now," Dodd said.
To sign up for the walk or donate to a team, go to coldestnightoftheyear.org/newwestminster.
