Toque Tuesday backs homelessness efforts
Half of revenues go to helping Hope Centre, Community Care
An annual national campaign that benefits local homelessness prevention programs will support two Niagara agencies this week.
Toque Tuesday, hosted by Raising the Roof, will support The Hope Centre in Welland and Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.
Winter hats and masks are available for purchase online to help the cause. Both Niagara Street Tim Hortons locations in Welland will be selling them Tuesday.
A mayor’s breakfast event held in St. Catharines for several years has been cancelled.
“Not being able to do that is a really big deal,” said Leslie Bellingham, director of resource development and communications for Raising the Roof, adding the event usually drew about 500 people.
Based on conversations with the two benefitting agencies, as well as through her previous job with Open Arms Mission in Welland, Bellingham said “connecting people” is the best way to serve communities who are homeless and people “on the edge” of homelessness.
Providing resources to access affordable housing listings, helping people understand how to get back on track with utility bills, making sure their identification is up to date, addressing landlord issues and simply “advocating” for individuals who need help with a number of matters is key in addressing poverty and homelessness, said Bellingham.
Local libraries being temporarily closed has also created severe limitations for vulnerable people unable to connect with the supports they need.
“That’s why someone like a housing worker at The Hope Centre is even more important.
“It’s these types of things that people don’t really think of,” said Bellingham, adding there is more to addressing homelessness than “shelters and emergency responses.”
Being homeless doesn’t always mean sleeping on the street. People often spend durations of time “couch surfing,” she said.
“If you don’t know how long you can stay where you’re staying, that’s homelessness, too,” said Bellingham.
Raising the Roof’s social media channels will feature interviews with homelessness experts and other dignitaries, such as St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik, throughout the day Tuesday.
Marcie Clarkson, community engagement co-ordinator for The Hope Centre, said raising awareness about ways to prevent homelessness is vital, along with the work going on at the King Street organization.
It’s also important to make sure the vulnerable population is aware of the help that’s available, the “services that can be provided to them,” she said, noting an example of referring people to legal clinics to deal with eviction issues with landlords.
This is a major component of what The Hope Centre does with its community coaches, assisting with “little extra things so people can get what they need,” she said.
Making people aware there is light at the end of the tunnel is crucial, helping them realize “it’s not always the worst-case scenario,” she said.
Lists of available affordable housing in print or online is a common piece of the puzzle that people need, she said.
This year, sales will all be online at Raisingtheroof.org — click on “buy a toque” to see hats and accessories, including masks.
Half the money from tuque sales will benefit local agencies, with the remaining 50 per cent going to Raising the Roof’s national initiatives.
Last year’s event brought in about $2,000 for the Hope Centre.