Churches making homeless a priority

By Audrey Martin

DURING the cold snap that preceded the recent torrential rains in the Lower Mainland, many emergency shelter agencies were overloaded and had to turn needy people away. But Christian services continue on an ongoing basis to serve the homeless; and some are developing more facilities to assist the needy.

NightShift

In Surrey, a new outreach called NightShift Ministries Society is emerging, backed by well over two dozen churches. Currently without a facility, this group of volunteers has been asked by the city to provide a Community Impact Study before its application to operate an emergency shelter from a local building in the Whalley area will be permitted. The study will cost between $5,000 and $10,000 ­ to be paid for by a group which is only now developing a board and management team. In the meantime, the group is serving meals from under a tent on property owned by Surrey.

"The municipality is leaving us alone for now, because we have agreed to the study," said NightShift founder MaryAnne Connor. But she said the business community has expressed concerns. Rather than provide an overnight shelter, NightShift would operate from 9 am to 11 pm. City councillors and business people in the area are concerned about where street people will go after the doors are shut each night. Connor responded: "I come from a business background and understand the concerns . . . but that's where the street people are."

The ministry's goal is to operate not merely as a 'band-aid,' but as an agent of change and a place of referral for those in need. If the building is approved, NightShift will offer Bible study, counselling and referrals to rehabilitation agencies for people with addictions.

Connor said the program began when individuals from Gentle Shepherd Foursquare Church "responded to the call of nature" during a severe snowstorm in January 2004. She was attending a Baptist church in White Rock and recruited others to serve with her.

When the Foursquare Church's building was closed for ministry use, NightShift Ministries Society had to look for alternate facilities. No other local churches had the facilities ­ or, she said, the "will" ­ to house the outreach fulltime.

Now, however, the initiative has the support of the Surrey Pastors' Fellowship, which represents approximately 30 churches. Alan Simpson, a spokesperson for the fellowship, told BCCN the group is working to develop an infrastructure for the organization, to catch up with the work already being done. The fellowship became involved last May.

Tri-Cities

A similar project is envisioned for the Tri-Cities area ­ Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam ­ which is one of the last Lower Mainland communities to build a shelter for the homeless. Northside Foursquare Church in Port Coquitlam currently operates a feeding program; but people from the Tri-Cities requiring overnight shelter need to be bused to New Westminster for a place to sleep.

The Salvation Army has plans to build a shelter in the area, but anticipates it will take up to a year to find a suitable property and deal with zoning issues. It will be more than a shelter, however; it will be a multi-use centre with an emergency component, according to Capt. David Macpherson.

"If we're not careful, shelters can turn into warehouses ­ and we don't make an impact. We're looking at a case management model to provide a way out for people on the streets," Macpherson said.

He added that not everyone on the streets wants to change; but for those who would change if they saw a light at the end of the tunnel, "we want to be that light."

Local churches are supportive in prayer and are anticipated to assist at the open public meetings which may be required to make the Tri-Cities shelter a reality.

Fraser Valley

The recently released 'Upper Fraser Valley Homelessness Report' shows that half of the Fraser Valley's homeless are in the Abbotsford area.

Ron VanWyk, director of employment and development with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) told BCCN that many homeless face a serious lack of affordable housing and 89 percent suffer from addictions, mental health and physical problems.

In the Langley area, Brookswood Baptist, Southgate Church, Aldergrove Seventh Day Adventist and the Salvation Army contributed shelter under the Extreme Weather Response Coordinator Annie McKitrick, who attends Brighouse United Church in Richmond.

Vancouver

Two 'everyday saints' featured in December issues of The Vancouver Sun identify themselves as Christians.

Ken Lyotier, 57, is founder of United We Can, a charity that provides the poor in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside with employment to dig out cans, bottles and other recyclables from the city's garbage bins.

The organization's annual revenue is now $2.5 million after a decade and it employs more than 1,500 in an effort that not only assists the poor but also cleans the environment.

Ellen Shonsta, 61, known on the streets as 'Mom,' cooks and doles out food to the needy from her wheelchair.

She and friends from her church, Lynn Valley Full Gospel Church, often feed 700 people per night.