Articles
27th April 2009
Danny Zanbilowicz
A couple of years ago the issue of homelessness in the Comox Valley became part of the public discourse, and several groups were formed to try and find answers to the complex web of problems.
Unfortunately, after meetings, discussions, and good intentions, little of tangible value emerged to actually help people who were on the streets, or at risk.
The exception has been Dawn to Dawn, a grassroots all-volunteer community group which is rapidly earning a reputation for its effectiveness.
What separates this group from other well-meaning ones is its ability to focus on small, achievable goals, succeed in accomplishing them, and then take on bigger tasks. As a a result, Dawn to Dawn is riding a wave of public acknowledgement and support, benefiting from a brimming basketful of events and fundraisng intitiatives.
Sam Sommers, the local Co-ordinator of Addiction Services for the Vancouver Health Authority is one of the hard-working volunteers who help make it happen. She admits- “I have no life- neither does anybody else- it's okay.”
She and other frontline workers who know the seriousness of homeless issue in our community are especially motivated, and well-placed to make a difference.
She says it all began in April of 2007, when “Around seveenty-five people met at a public meeting at the Westerly Hotel..Helen Boyd and Tom Grant did presentations. Many of us involved with services were frustrated because people have nowhere to live. Ten people formed the first board. We decided to get busy, and got the first landlord to take a chance on us.”
The group's first project was to liaise between homeless or at-risk individuals, and landlords, to ensure that the landlords conditions were met regarding damage deposits and regular rent payment, while the clients were assisted with rent subsidies, and other services.
Sam says- “We're the tenant. They give us a good deal on rent, we pay the damage deposit, sometimes Hydro. We have put nineteen people into leasehold properties.The goal is to move to independence.”
Everything is done by volunteers: “People help us set up, clean apartments, paint, repair, move furniture. We also furnish apartments by donations.”
Currently, all the volunteers are “tier one”- there are plans to bring in tier two, which would include people with a background in human services.
Sam adds: “We need to hire a residential support worker on contract a day a week. The program can't do more apartments till we get somebody. Landlords are offering, and we have applications, but we don't do anything about it. We need some cash coming in.”
Ironically, Sam says- “We ourselves are homeless. We wander from room to room. We could do so much more with a place.”
The good news is that “Someone may be coming forward” to offer them office space.
Dawn to Dawn runs three programs- the residential component, a new mobile van, and volunteer development- all staffed by volunteers who are contacted on a call-out system.
The volunteer program is going smoothly- “Every time we get ten requests, we run an orientation- we have a package.”
This spring, they hope to launch their mobile health unit, which has a team of eighteen medical volunteeers who work three days a week- “Helen Boyd did all the background work.The van was donated. It goes out to areas where there are pockets of homeless people, or to an individual. The focus is on health, but there will be donated clothes, and some food. They will answer questions, and reach people who don't want to go to “the man”. We hope to launch in April.” The van has funding in place for about a year.
Sam says- “We have wonderful donations. Rotary gave us $30,000- the only way we survived our first year. Mark's Work Wearhouse has been huge, $10,000 from Comox Valley Foundation, the Sally Ann- $5,000, plus lots of smaller donations such as from youth groups. In kind donations total over $100,000.”
But programs such as residential assistance “need a steady source of income.”
In response to these needs, Dawn to Dawn has organized some pretty cool fundraisers.
On Saturday May 9, Dawn to Dawn will be hosting a dinner/dance, silent auction event at the Upper Filberg Hall, once again, with almost everything provided by donations.
Union Street Grill will make veggie chili for 150 people; the Coast Westerly is preparing meat chili for the same number, Locals, Toscano's, Avenue and Martine's will be providing appies and salads. Titas is making an Aztec cake for 300, Edible Island is supplying chips and salsa, while Safeway is on board with meat and cheese platters.
Entertainment will be provided by the Georgia Strait Big Band, the Jenn Forsland Group, and Helen Austin. Dance instructor Val Palme has offered to do a dance demo. “I'm overwhelmed with how much people have come forward”, says Sam.
Tickets are $50 for the dinner, dance and silent auction, with a $25 tax receipt.available.
Sam is excited about “making table art” for the event. On April 26 up to thirty mostly youth and their friends will assemble at Wachiay Friendship Society- 1625-B Mcphee, Courtenay- from 1-5 pm to make “denim covered flower pots. Anderton Nurseries supplied all the pots and flowers. We will cover 120 pots with denim as table art- it's a free give away. Penny from Leapenhi will be the art director. Bill Massey will make his famous homemade pizza.”
Another project is a fundraising CD of mostly original, some cover tunes related to the issue of homelessness, produced by Bobby Herron in Cumberland with the participation of some of our top local musicians, the proceeds of sales going to Dawn to Dawn. The CD should be ready for release soon, and many of the stars will be performing their songs at Earth Day, Satrurday April 25, Simms Park in Courtenay.
Also happening- the quilting group who raised funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation last year will be creating their works of art for Dawn to Dawn this year. Some of their panels will be ready for display at the dance, and at least one will be part of the silent auction.
The rest will be raffled off, and the winners announced at a special gala planned for New Year's Eve. Sam says they're pulling out all the stops for this event. A silent auction will include unique items like getting yourself written into a novel! She says-”We're going to wow people. Stay tuned!”
Sam can be reached during the day at 250-338-9777.
Unfortunately, after meetings, discussions, and good intentions, little of tangible value emerged to actually help people who were on the streets, or at risk.
The exception has been Dawn to Dawn, a grassroots all-volunteer community group which is rapidly earning a reputation for its effectiveness.
What separates this group from other well-meaning ones is its ability to focus on small, achievable goals, succeed in accomplishing them, and then take on bigger tasks. As a a result, Dawn to Dawn is riding a wave of public acknowledgement and support, benefiting from a brimming basketful of events and fundraisng intitiatives.
Sam Sommers, the local Co-ordinator of Addiction Services for the Vancouver Health Authority is one of the hard-working volunteers who help make it happen. She admits- “I have no life- neither does anybody else- it's okay.”
She and other frontline workers who know the seriousness of homeless issue in our community are especially motivated, and well-placed to make a difference.
She says it all began in April of 2007, when “Around seveenty-five people met at a public meeting at the Westerly Hotel..Helen Boyd and Tom Grant did presentations. Many of us involved with services were frustrated because people have nowhere to live. Ten people formed the first board. We decided to get busy, and got the first landlord to take a chance on us.”
The group's first project was to liaise between homeless or at-risk individuals, and landlords, to ensure that the landlords conditions were met regarding damage deposits and regular rent payment, while the clients were assisted with rent subsidies, and other services.
Sam says- “We're the tenant. They give us a good deal on rent, we pay the damage deposit, sometimes Hydro. We have put nineteen people into leasehold properties.The goal is to move to independence.”
Everything is done by volunteers: “People help us set up, clean apartments, paint, repair, move furniture. We also furnish apartments by donations.”
Currently, all the volunteers are “tier one”- there are plans to bring in tier two, which would include people with a background in human services.
Sam adds: “We need to hire a residential support worker on contract a day a week. The program can't do more apartments till we get somebody. Landlords are offering, and we have applications, but we don't do anything about it. We need some cash coming in.”
Ironically, Sam says- “We ourselves are homeless. We wander from room to room. We could do so much more with a place.”
The good news is that “Someone may be coming forward” to offer them office space.
Dawn to Dawn runs three programs- the residential component, a new mobile van, and volunteer development- all staffed by volunteers who are contacted on a call-out system.
The volunteer program is going smoothly- “Every time we get ten requests, we run an orientation- we have a package.”
This spring, they hope to launch their mobile health unit, which has a team of eighteen medical volunteeers who work three days a week- “Helen Boyd did all the background work.The van was donated. It goes out to areas where there are pockets of homeless people, or to an individual. The focus is on health, but there will be donated clothes, and some food. They will answer questions, and reach people who don't want to go to “the man”. We hope to launch in April.” The van has funding in place for about a year.
Sam says- “We have wonderful donations. Rotary gave us $30,000- the only way we survived our first year. Mark's Work Wearhouse has been huge, $10,000 from Comox Valley Foundation, the Sally Ann- $5,000, plus lots of smaller donations such as from youth groups. In kind donations total over $100,000.”
But programs such as residential assistance “need a steady source of income.”
In response to these needs, Dawn to Dawn has organized some pretty cool fundraisers.
On Saturday May 9, Dawn to Dawn will be hosting a dinner/dance, silent auction event at the Upper Filberg Hall, once again, with almost everything provided by donations.
Union Street Grill will make veggie chili for 150 people; the Coast Westerly is preparing meat chili for the same number, Locals, Toscano's, Avenue and Martine's will be providing appies and salads. Titas is making an Aztec cake for 300, Edible Island is supplying chips and salsa, while Safeway is on board with meat and cheese platters.
Entertainment will be provided by the Georgia Strait Big Band, the Jenn Forsland Group, and Helen Austin. Dance instructor Val Palme has offered to do a dance demo. “I'm overwhelmed with how much people have come forward”, says Sam.
Tickets are $50 for the dinner, dance and silent auction, with a $25 tax receipt.available.
Sam is excited about “making table art” for the event. On April 26 up to thirty mostly youth and their friends will assemble at Wachiay Friendship Society- 1625-B Mcphee, Courtenay- from 1-5 pm to make “denim covered flower pots. Anderton Nurseries supplied all the pots and flowers. We will cover 120 pots with denim as table art- it's a free give away. Penny from Leapenhi will be the art director. Bill Massey will make his famous homemade pizza.”
Another project is a fundraising CD of mostly original, some cover tunes related to the issue of homelessness, produced by Bobby Herron in Cumberland with the participation of some of our top local musicians, the proceeds of sales going to Dawn to Dawn. The CD should be ready for release soon, and many of the stars will be performing their songs at Earth Day, Satrurday April 25, Simms Park in Courtenay.
Also happening- the quilting group who raised funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation last year will be creating their works of art for Dawn to Dawn this year. Some of their panels will be ready for display at the dance, and at least one will be part of the silent auction.
The rest will be raffled off, and the winners announced at a special gala planned for New Year's Eve. Sam says they're pulling out all the stops for this event. A silent auction will include unique items like getting yourself written into a novel! She says-”We're going to wow people. Stay tuned!”
Sam can be reached during the day at 250-338-9777.