The Pan Northern-Ontario Homelessness Summit was held in North Bay this week. Attendees at the conference included everyone interested in the homelessness situation in the North, from the frontline workers directly serving the homeless, to the administrators and managers of social services organizations, like the CMHA and DSSAB. Several residents of Timmins attended. The conference, which aimed to bring awareness to the issue of homelessness in Northern Ontario, was enlightening.
Dr. Carol Kauppi, one of the keynote speakers, presented some of her findings from the homelessness studies she conducted in both Sudbury and Timmins. The Timmins statistics showed that 1.5% of the population is homeless. She pointed out that stereotype of the typical homeless person, a male “hobo” suffering from substance abuse, is inaccurate. The majority of homeless people are women and children. North Bay is the next city to undergo the same homelessness study.
A few of those involved in the implementation of Timmins 2020 were in attendance. One commented the conference showed how many people and organizations are involved in the issue of homelessness, and how essential community partnerships are. This was effectively illustrated through a skit which had a “homeless” person walk into the room asking for help. Everyone from the CMHA to the Humane Society had to step in and help get this person out of the tent they were staying in with their three dogs and into a homeless shelter.
The insights gleaned from the conference will certainly help inform the Housing Strategy currently underway in Timmins.
