Twenty-five homeless people are now being housed in the Thompson YWCA’s dormitories to help with social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Thompson reported in its Northerner News blog.
The people being housed there were selected due to their elevated risk as a result of age, medical conditions and more.
The 25 people were screened for temperatures and their recent history on arrival at the YWCA, which is housing them in a designated area, providing food and encouraging them to remain near the building for the duration of the public health orders currently in place in Manitoba. The YWCA has 24-hour security every day and no alcohol, drugs or other intoxicants are allowed on site.
The temporary housing is being funded by the federal government’s Reaching Home homelessness strategy, which announced last May that Thompson wold be receiving $1.74 million over five years to support initiatives such as the Thompson Homeless Shelter. The city is also receiving an additional $200,000 in funding this year to support additional measures to try to ensure homeless people’s safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) has also donated hygiene hampers with supplies like soap, shampoo and a change of clothes for the people being housed at the YWCA.
There are still 52 people relying on the Thompson Homeless Shelter for a place to sleep every night, including some who have homes in outlying communities but are stranded in Thompson.
The city investigated a Polaris building at the old University College of the North campus as a possible temporary housing facility but it would require more extensive repairs than hoped to be suitable.
The city, the homeless shelter and the community advisory board on homelessness are looking at other options for safe housing during the coronavirus pandemic. MKO and Keewatin Tribal Council have also applied for additional COVID-19 specific funding to support projects for vulnerable people in Northern Manitoba.
The Thompson RCMP community relations unit and the city’s community safety officers continue to patrol downtown Thompson to help make homeless and at-risk people more aware of COVID-19 and the risk it presents.
