North Bay men's shelter says more and more people need help
North Bay's men's homeless shelter Hope Awaits Ministries says there has been a sizeable influx of homeless men looking for a bed at night and a hot meal.
The men's faith shelter, which can provide a room for seven clients each night, is continuing to provide as much support as it can.
“We need to have a change of heart. That's what we try and do is change our own heart and that of our clients. There needs to be a change of heart in the city for those in need," said shelter care worker Phillip Penna.
The shelter is only open in the evenings and at night for 15 hours. Staff are trying to find other ways to meet the demand they see at their door on a daily basis.
"It can be hard having a limited space. But on the flip side, having less space also creates a different family atmosphere that has really helped our clients," said the shelter's executive director Nicole Clark.
"They feel like they're part of a home."
The shelter's priority now is not to expand space but its operating hours as volunteers are finding it difficult to help with the growing problems of alcohol and/or drug addictions and mental health with which clients struggle.
Volunteers often refer the homeless men to other services throughout the city to help with their addictions.
“We're working with them on a longer-term basis. We're not an emergency shelter," said Penna.
"We have to be discerning about who we let in. Often what we'll say is 'Look we need you to do a couple things first and then come back in a couple of weeks.'"
Saturday afternoon from noon-7, Hope Awaits Ministries is hosting its fourth annual Homeless Night Challenge at the Lake Nipissing waterfront to raise money that will go right back to the shelter.
Since its inception, the fundraiser has raised close to $230,000.
"We work with them the men one-on-one to get them re-established and back in the community," said Clark.
"Having an event like this, raising the awareness of homelessness and about what we do at Hope Awaits, is really big for us because we are a community shelter."
o Download our app to get local alerts on your device
o Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
During the fundraiser, participating teams will be placed in the shoes of a homeless person and they will have to build their own shelter as if they're living rough on the street.
More than 160 men have been housed at the shelter since it opened five years ago.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.