Resources for the homeless in Windsor

There are 30,000 Canadians who are homeless every night according to a new homelessness report.

In the study, done by Canadian Homelessness Research Network 200,000 Canadians experience homelessness, 150,000 use a homeless shelter, 30,000 are homeless on any given night and 50,000 are part of the “hidden homeless”. This includes those staying with friends on a temporary basis.

The Downtown Mission is open 24/7 and provides services for people who are in need.

“We have hygiene products, clothing, food, place to sleep and counselling, housing applications referrals, mental health referrals and sleeping bags. We have it all,” said Paula Montilonie. Montilonie is a service support worker and team leader at the Downtown Mission in Windsor.

The mission serves 600 meals a day and in the evening they fill over 100 beds.

Montilonie said people don’t realize there are options for after hours.

“They think that when we close at nine they have no options,” said Montilonie. “If people have nowhere to go we encourage them to go to the Sanctuary.”

The Sanctuary is an emergency crash-bed program run by the Mission. It’s open from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Chris Clark, 52, became homeless two months ago but has not been working for the past two years.

“I was in manufacturing and doing construction. The wages were good, and I had a good family but I ended up walking out the door,” said Clark.

Clark uses Street Help to find places to stay.

“It would be nice to see more housing.”

The Downtown Mission has many program to help provide for the homeless. Find out more information on their website.