By Jan Biggs

Inn from the Cold hopes to make sights such as this a thing of the past in Kelowna.

All that changed in Kelowna several weeks ago, when three people parked their SUV under the surveillance camera of a local retailer at 1 am.

They then proceeded to dump four large pails of white paint on a couple sleeping huddled in the alley.

While the investigation by the RCMP continues, there are people whose compassion and kindness erupt over this kind of cruelty, and cover it like a soft blanket.  

Inn from the Cold is a volunteer project which provides emergency shelter to people living on the streets during the coldest months of the year.

It is modeled on programs from eastern Canada and Calgary where, in a similar desire to soften the effects of extreme weather, church groups offer volunteers and resources for the benefit of those without homes.  

People looking for a place for the night come to a central meeting place, where the volunteers meet them and bus them to a local church; there, they are given some food and a simple bed on the floor. Last year, there were more than 1,700 overnight stays over 83 nights; and nearly 100 volunteers helped to make this happen.  

Few shelters in Kelowna accommodate women or couples, and some do not allow access to anyone who has been using alcohol or drugs.

Inn from the Cold maintains a flexible policy, which helps as many as possible to find a warm bed.  

President of the Kelowna Inn from the Cold Society, Heather Karabelas, explains: “We are what we call a ‘low-barrier’ program.  Most people just want a safe, warm place to sleep for the night.”

The basic rules are to treat other guests and volunteers with respect, as well as being respectful of the facilities. This approach seems to be working.  

“We often see guests volunteering to help with shoveling snow or cleaning up. One of our guests donated $60 for pizza because she had started a job and appreciated the program.  She said she wanted to give something back.”

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Volunteers are recruited from churches and the general public. The organization sees these volunteers as the primary vehicle that can convey a message of care and respect for those who use this service.

“The individuals who come forward for this program are remarkable people,” Karabelas says, They take ownership of the program and are creative with limited resources. They feel the freedom and the onus to problem solve in difficult situations. Volunteers sacrifice their own physical comfort willingly and with good humour.  

“They often venture beyond their comfort zone because they believe in the value of the work they are doing and the people they are serving.  In many cases they contribute substantially from their private resources – either money or goods – as well as their time.” Some volunteers experience significant attitude adjustments.  

One volunteer reports such a change. “Now when I go downtown I recognize some of our guests and I can say hello, whereas before I didn’t know who they were.”  

Another talks about the need for more public awareness of the problems of homelessness: “These people are members of our society and should be included, not marginalized. Any one of us could be in their situations.”  

While most volunteers note the benefits, the work isn’t always easy.  And even though there are two volunteers at a time to spell each other off during overnight shifts, it can be arduous and demanding.  

This season the Inn is expecting to be as busy as ever. One full time shelter and volunteer coordinator as well as four part time staff have been added this year. And more volunteers are giving their time to help make our community more compassionate and humane.

“The special effect of this shelter situation is that it brings cultures together in a very intimate way,” says Karabelas.  “Most profoundly, the privileged and the marginalized converse, eat, resolve conflicts together, laugh, cry, worry about one another and embrace.  

“It is also a matter of pride to our volunteers that people from different denominations or with no religious affiliation seek out similarities in their beliefs and work together from a common ground for a common cause – service.”

January 2008