The Sheltering the Homeless in Place Project (SHIPP) hosted at YWCA Thompson will receive financial support from Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. (MKO) to continue sheltering First Nations individuals living off-reserve.
The funding will allow YWCA Thompson to continue hosting 25 of Thompson’s most vulnerable residents, who in addition to having elevated risk of COVID-19 complications, have nowhere to safely shelter in place. The program has been in place since April.
“The SHIPP is a project we started with the City of Thompson. They were looking at a place for the most vulnerable in regards to their medical condition or their age,” said executive director of the YWCA Thompson Kim Hickes. “There was some funding to bring it along until mid-June and then, the city providing more funding to let it continue till the second week of August. We didn’t have any other funding besides that, but MKO contacted us saying that they will provide the funding so we can continue with the project until October.”
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Thompson worked with the community advisory board, the Canadian Mental Health Association/Thompson Homeless Shelter, and the YWCA to establish the SHIPP program at the YWCA. The project identified those most at risk in the vulnerable homeless population and referred them to SHIPP for immediate shelter and social service needs. MKO has been involved from the beginning providing hygiene packs, clothing and activity supplies.
“They were a great support right from the get-go, and I know that they worked hard trying to find funding for this project," said Hickes. "In reality, if the project did end, the 25 that are living at the YWCA would return to the streets.”
A City of Thompson spokesperson said the city continues to provide administrative and logistical supports, distribute funding to the project and contributes community safety officers to the SHIPP.
“Community safety officers attend the facility five days a week to provide site security, as well as to interact with project clients in a non-enforcement capacity — to know the individuals and gain a greater appreciation of their challenges, needs and life stories,” they said.
MKO Grand Chief Garrison Settee said the organization is aware that half of First Nations people from MKO First Nations are living off-reserve in both urban and rural settings.
Last month, the government of Canada announced that it is providing $8.4 million to 17 Manitoba organizations, including MKO, to support urban and off-reserve Indigenous people. MKO has decided to use some of its allocated funding to help the homeless community in Thompson.
“We have been concerned that people are going to fall through the cracks when it comes to the response to COVID-19. We are pleased to have a strong partner with the YWCA Thompson; they work to ensure that people experiencing housing and homelessness issues are well cared for at all times, no matter whether there is a pandemic,” said Settee.
Nicole Wong covers northern and Indigenous issues for the Winnipeg Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism.
