Written by SCOTT STANFIELD
Citizen staff
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Wednesday, 08 October 2008 |
Ashley Simpson, 17, left, Claudette Plante, manager of the Family Resource Centre, Jacob Vanderminne, 15, and Danielle Rymayer, 17, were part of the group assembling survival packs for homeless individuals in preparation for Homeless Action Week (Oct. 12 - 19). (Citizen photo by David Mah)
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SCHOOL DISTRICTCLAUDETTE PLANTE
The packs -- which contain an assortment of daily items such as toothpaste, blankets and granola bars, along with a resource card that lists various services in town -- will be distributed Tuesday at noon during the Homeless Connect Day/Wellness Fair at the Connaught Youth Centre. The event is part of Homelessness Action Week, a province-wide initiative that kicks off Sunday.
"It's a great community event for us," said Claudette Plante of the Prince George & District Elizabeth Fry (Housing) Society. "We know that this is a very simple way to assist and enrich the lives of those that are going to be receiving these packs."
The group was hoping to double the efforts from two years ago when 75 packs were assembled.
Anybody who is homeless or at risk of becoming homelessness is invited to attend Homeless Connect Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Connaught Youth Centre.
"There'll be services for homeless and a variety of agencies are going to be there," said Kerry Pateman, co-ordinator of Community Partners Addressing Homelessness.
The itinerary of events during Homelessness Action Week Oct. 12-19 also includes:
- A free pancake breakfast from 8-10 a.m. Wednesday at the Native Friendship Centre;
- Sleep on the Streets - two volunteers will spend Wednesday night on the streets to experience life from a homeless point of view and report back to the community;
- David Chudnovsky, NDP Opposition Critic for Homelessness and Mental Health, presents The Way Home, a report based on his meetings with agencies and homeless people in B.C. communities, from 7-7:45 p.m. Thursday at the CNC lecture theatre;
- all candidates forum focusing on homelessness and housing, from 7:45-9:30 p.m. Thursday at the CNC lecture theatre;
- Homelessness barbecue from 3-5 p.m. Friday at City Hall.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 )
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1. Find something else to wear as your clean clothes will not do.
2. Discard all picture I.D. (as many homeless do not qualify for assistance because they have no Government issued I.D.
3. Live homeless for a minimun of 2 weeks to month. Thats when the REAL desperation begins. 1 night is equivalent to camping.
4. Throw in a chemical addiction.
Now you have the makings of a homless person in P.G.