{"id":9751,"date":"2024-11-08T17:06:47","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T21:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluedoor.ca\/?p=9751"},"modified":"2024-11-11T17:11:35","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T21:11:35","slug":"york-region-charity-urging-religious-groups-to-offer-shelter-space-to-tackle-homeless-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluedoor.ca\/york-region-charity-urging-religious-groups-to-offer-shelter-space-to-tackle-homeless-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"York Region charity urging religious groups to offer shelter space to tackle homeless crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Posted On: Friday, November 8, 2024, Posted By: Tyreike Reid, CBC News, Original Article<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wideman Mennonite Church in Markham is one five faith-based organizations in York Region that will be providing shelter space for the Mosaic Out of the Cold program this season. The church will offer up to 30 beds two nights a week for people experiencing homelessness.\u00a0(Submitted by Sheryl Wideman)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A York Region charity is urging faith-based groups to use the space they have as shelters, as homelessness in the region continues to grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blue Door charity is launching its Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold program, a yearly initiative which partners with faith-based groups in York Region to provide shelter space for people experiencing homelessness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Door CEO Michael Braithwaite says the charity partnered with five faith-based groups this year, but hopes more will join to help meet an increase in demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The seasonal program launches\u00a0in October and used to run until the end of March, but Braithwaite says growing needs forced the program to extend its season to the end of May.\u00a0CEO of Blue Door, Michael Braithwaite, says the Mosaic Out of The Cold program is expecting higher intake numbers this year. He says religious groups that have large or underutilized spaces should consider offering shelter for people experiencing homelessness. (Submitted by Blue Door)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We serve over 500 people a year and we anticipate this year we’ll have over 600 unique individuals,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braithwaite says a shortage of affordable housing options and rent increases are driving increased demand. He says he’s hoping more faith-based groups will offer their space to ease the pressures and help expand the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braithwaite says each site will offer up to 30 beds, and while the program runs seven days a week, some locations will only operate a few nights a week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wideman Mennonite Church is one of the groups stepping forward for its second year. The church has\u00a030 beds available.\u00a0The Wideman Mennonite Church is one of five religious spaces that will be offering shelter beds until May. Sheryl Wideman says this is the second year the church is participating in the Mosaic Out of The Cold program. (CBC News)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheryl Wideman has helped with the Out of The Cold program for 15 years, and she says it’s important that her church provide support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When you do this, you realize that these people are just people, like us, only they’ve had some hard times come to them,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“How can we not share what we have?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n