P.A. residents learn lessons after 36-hour homeless challenge

It was Prince Albert's first year joining what participants say was an eye-opening challenge.

This year was the first opportunity for community leaders in Prince Albert to participate in the Sanctum Care Group 36-hours for Homelessness challenge.

Boreal Healthcare Foundation CEO Cody Barnett was one of 10 who took part in the Prince Albert challenge on Sept. 25 and 26. He was partnered with another participant, and they were instructed to live as an HIV positive couple for 36 hours on the street.

“My partner, who ended up being Britany Shymanski, one of the maternity unit nurses at the Victoria Hospital,” said Barnett. “She was five months pregnant, and we were houseless.”

Barnett said he was shocked by how long it takes to access housing support after going through the paperwork himself.

“Even if I did everything perfectly, I was looking at six to eight weeks until I had income and housing. So, that was pretty eye-opening.”

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Prince Albert organizer Brittany Acorn says Prince Albert’s first challenge required a lot of preparation. She wanted to bring the challenge to Prince Albert after seeing it done previous years in Saskatoon, hoping to highlight how each city has its own challenges.

“Just understanding the difference between the bigger city living and what resources are readily available, versus maybe our northern location and how that differs,” said Acorn. “We also really see a transient population here in Prince Albert, and that plays effect into our resources as well.”

Saskatoon’s challenge took place from Oct. 2 to Oct. 3 and mayor Cynthia Block participated. She says it was intense on every level.

“I also think that we have to reconsider how we are approaching drop-in centers when it comes to the vulnerability of women. That was very palpable in understanding the unique vulnerabilities that happen, at night in our city.”

Acorn says that Prince Albert will join the challenge again next year and preparations are underway.