The numerous tents along Wallace Street in Listowel are not a new homeless encampment, they are however trying to shine a light on the growing problem.
“It’s a type of thing you don’t want to believe is real, especially in your tiny community. Right? But it is. And us ignoring or denying that it’s there doesn’t mean that it goes away,” said Jessica Stahle of Listowel.
Stahle is one of 15 North Perth residents spending the night out in the cold to raise awareness and funds for the growing homelessness problem in Listowel and area. Stahle knows of what she speaks, she used to be homeless herself.
“I had these select people who were like little glimmers of hope. You know, give me a couch to crash on, give you a few bucks to get through those dark days. And, I think that we don’t realize how much just even a kind word or a hopeful word can be for somebody when they are struggling and when they’re either experiencing homelessness or just struggling in general,” said Stahle, who is sleeping outdoors with her daughter Ebony Saturday night.
Krista Hochgrafe has had several members of her family experience homelessness, which is why she too is “sleeping rough” tonight.
“The fact that there are people currently in our community who are working 40 hours a week and having to choose between shelter and food is a huge crisis, right,” she said.
The 24 hour “This is Home” event is not just a yearly conversation starter about the problem of homelessness and housing insecurity, it’s a fundraiser for It Takes a Village, which is a community driven food bank and moneyless second hand store in downtown Listowel. When they opened in 2017, they would serve a couple hundred residents. Now, they help over 1,100 people with food, clothing, and supplies, every single month.
“This campaign is really important to me just to keep the village going, so it can continue to do its work in our community,” said Courtney Gratton, who volunteers with It Takes a Village, and is also taking part in the overnight fundraiser.
The United Way Perth-Huron estimates there are 150 people that are “unhoused” in Perth County. But that number is almost certainly higher, say “This is Home” participants.
“So we might look to identify how many tents do we see, right. But what we really need to understand is that there are many, many people who are finding different places to be able to stay warm and stay safe. The tents won’t tell that story,” said Andrea Charest, co-founder and current executive director of the It Takes a Village.
Sleeping outdoors for one night isn’t going to solve homelessness or unaffordability issues in Listowel and area, but it’s a place to start the ‘uncomfortable conversation’ about the growing divide between those with and those without in our communities, said Stahle.
After being homeless herself, Stahle now sits on the Board of Directors for It Takes a Village.
“It doesn’t always end up in a fairy tale ending, in positivity, but for us to just say, ‘Well, there’s nothing I can do,’ isn’t quite right, right?” said Stahle.
“People will often see our tents and think we are here to talk about the issue of homelessness, but what we’re really here to talk about are the human issues that we all experience, and generally and genuinely that typically bring about feelings of shame and embarrassment and stigma. So, our conversations for this are really about, this is life and this is community,” said Charest.
You can donate or learn more about the This is Home 24 awareness campaign and fundraiser by visiting their website. The tents will be up outside of Youth Unlimited YFC Centre at 290 Wallace Ave. S. in Listowel until 8 a.m., Sunday.
