About 25 people gathered for an Out of the Cold meeting on Friday morning in Truro. During the public meeting, Bible Hill resident Audrey Bailey shared she has rented a small apartment on Prince Street to help “fill in the gap” for homeless people after temporary shelter hours.
“It can be open Saturday morning,” Bailey said during the meeting, adding as of Friday morning there weren’t many furnishings but the room would provide warmth and safety.
The rental of the apartment is not part of the Out of the Cold initiative.
“I’m very aware of the need. I know the hardship (homeless people) go through. I was brought up to help and not to judge,” Bailey told the Truro Daily News. “I know the need is there (and) not all of the homeless come to the (Out of the Cold) shelter.”
Bailey said accommodations can be made available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Out of the Cold operates from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. at First United Church.
Bailey added as long as funding or donations are available, she’d like to continue offering the space in the daytime after the shelter closes at the end of March.
Out of the Cold is also stepping up its efforts to obtain a permanent shelter. The goal is to run a shelter seven days a week, day and night, that would also have access to community organizations, and job and skill-building opportunities.
Truro’s Grant Langford, a volunteer with the temporary shelter, said it’s disheartening to send shelter clients out into the cold in the mornings.
“I hate when it’s –20 below in January and we have to push them out the door. It’s still dark and cold. I think we have to go way beyond where we are now,” Langford said.
Some locations suggested at the meeting included the top floor of the Truro Farmers’ Market, the current library that will soon be vacated or Colchester Community Workshops’ new expansion project.
“We do have a number of vacant buildings downtown,” said Truro Mayor Bill Mills, who added the top floor of the Normal College could be a possibility once the new library gets settled in that building.
“You need to have a plan. If you have a proposed budget and partnerships, council would be obligated to look at it,” Mills said.
Truro Coun. Danny Joseph offered another way to look at the situation.
“We need partnerships (formed). There are inherent social concerns with the homeless. I believe it’s an ill conceived notion to say we need a building” first, Joseph said.
Other ideas discussed at the meeting included asking for advice from other organizations that have had success providing for the homeless, such as Habitat For Humanity.
A committee to continue seeking a permanent solution is being formed and funding grants through the federal government will be sought. For information on the apartment accommodations through Bailey, call 893-7636.
Twitter: tdnMonique
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About 25 people gathered for an Out of the Cold meeting on Friday morning in Truro. During the public meeting, Bible Hill resident Audrey Bailey shared that she has rented a small apartment on Prince Street to help “fill in the gap” for homeless people after temporary shelter hours.
“It can be open Saturday morning,” Bailey said during the meeting, adding as of Friday morning there weren’t many furnishings but the room would provide warmth and safety.
Bailey reiterated the rental of the apartment is something she is contributing to help address the issue of homelessness and it’s not part of the Out of the Cold initiative.
“I’m very aware of the need. I know the hardship (homeless people) go through. I was brought up to help and not to judge,” Bailey told the Truro Daily News. “I know the need is there (and) not all of the homeless come to the (Out of the Cold) shelter.”
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