SFEN says between 15 and 20 people are unhoused in town

A local non-profit that aims to support needy and vulnerable people in the community applauds a recent announcement from the regional and federal governments about a major investment to address homelessness.

It is a “positive step” in the expansion of shelter spaces, transitional housing and critical support services, but it doesn’t assist people in need in Fort Erie, said Theresa Murphy from Strong Fort Erie Neighbourhoods (SFEN).

Last week, the regional and federal governments shared details of its agreement, which will involve the Canadian government contributing more than $4.4 million in funding with the Region matching that amount over two years.

Funding will support the implementation of the region’s Community Encampment Response Plan, says a news release about the agreement.

The funding will be allocated to the region’s three largest municipalities: St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland.

“Unfortunately, Fort Erie continues to be a desert related to shelter spaces for any of our unhoused neighbours,” said Murphy.

For people from Fort Erie to be sent to a shelter out of town, there would be struggles, according to Murphy.

“They would continue to have to be sent off to other bigger and unfamiliar cities,” she told Fort Erie Radio in a statement.

“Regardless of the fact that there are more possibilities for shelter with this announcement, it still does not respond to the trauma of being a displaced homeless person where their local circle of support will vanish for those unhoused in Fort Erie,” she added.

SFEN has a volunteer team that brings essential food and other needs to those they learn about or have been observed living unhoused.

This number fluctuates with weather patterns, but this winter, SFEN saw something “quite different,” said Murphy, noting that local data remained the same.

This means between 15 and 20 people “continue to be living unhoused in these frigid temperatures,” she said.

SFEN works in partnership with Niagara Assertive Street Outreach (NASO), a collaboration of agencies focused on homelessness, to make contacts through 211, a helpline connecting people to social services.

“But this does not negate the reality that once again, it appears that Fort Erie has not been factored into any local, long-term shelter solution,” said Murphy.

Niagara Region funds emergency shelters to provide temporary support for individuals experiencing homelessness while they find suitable housing.

“The goal is to have the experience with homelessness be as short as possible and not happen again,” says the Region’s website.

On the Region’s website, six of Niagara’s 12 municipalities are listed as having homelessness prevention programs offered by other organizations. Fort Erie is on that list with the Salvation Army offering services.

For a full list of housing and homelessness resources available in Niagara, contact 211 Ontario.

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