TIMMINS – Elections Canada is working on helping homeless people exercise their right to vote later this month.
The Living Space in Timmins is doing its best to help by engaging the city's homeless community and emphasizing the power of the vote.
Some guests at The Living Space shelter are apathetic at the idea of voting. Some haven't voted in years, and as many say they don't see the point.
"For the most part, they've given up on the system because the system doesn't help them. So we try to just empower people and give them that voice back to say that their voice does matter, that their contribution to the community does matter, and just talk them through how elections influence things like funding for homeless shelters," said Jason Sereda, Living Space Executive Director.
Working with Elections Canada, The Living Space can have those without a fixed address sign a form, essentially allowing the shelter to vouch for them and use the building as their address.
Sereda says around 10 of the shelter's clients have signed up so far.
Although some feel voting is a lost cause, others think it's worth the effort to have a say in things.
"If we start to take action, more than just talk about it, we might see a change. But even then, it's probably going to take a long time… maybe even decades," said Justin Trepanier, Living Space client.
"I never used to really cast my ballot, but in the last couple years, I realized it may be just one vote, but maybe the next person says that and the next person, and it adds up. It could make a difference, you never know," said another client, Wade Etherington.
Elections Canada says representatives will be doing more outreach in the coming weeks.
Advance polling is underway now and runs through the long weekend, but potential voters can register up to and including Election Day on October 21.
