An emotional Remembrance Day
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SPOTLIGHT $1.10 Includes TAX
The Similkameen
Volume 65 Issue 47
Wednesday, November 19
Proudly serving the community since 1948 • www.similkameenspotlight.com
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Cold snap fuels crisis By Andrea DeMeer Similkameen Spotlight
Margaret Fraser
The first real freeze of the season created spectacular scenery across the Similkameen Valley, including this ice display at the home of the Antonick family on Princeton Summerland Road. The weather is less beautiful however for people who struggle with problems like homelessness, heating bills and empty cupboards.
Weather Watch Wednesday
High 6 / Low -4
Thursday
High 6 / Low -1
Friday
High 5 / Low -1
Saturday
High 4 / Low -1
Sunday
High 4 / Low -0
The recent and sudden drop in temperatures has left some Princeton residents – literally – out in the cold, while social service agencies say they are scrambling to meet a growing need with limited resources. Princeton Crisis Assistance responded to 12 requests for help in the last week. Board director Rayleen Brewer, who also runs the Crisis Assistance Thrift Store, told the Spotlight homelessness is a more pressing concern during winter months, and there are some people in Princeton who already cannot pay their heating bills. “I’ve got two or three clients right now who have no heat in their homes,” she said. Crisis Assistance provides emergency shelter and food for those in need. “I just had an emergency where a lady’s house was condemned for gas poisoning. She came in and we put them up in a motel for the weekend,” said Brewer. The program’s budget doesn’t extend to more than a two night stay, so Brewer then put the woman in touch with the Ombudsman’s office to assist her in getting help from her landlord, and directed her to local churches for more assistance. “We just had another young guy in here, homeless. He was 17 and we couldn’t put him in a motel because he wasn’t 18,” she said. “He was leaving an abusive home…the ministry basically told him they couldn’t do anything for him until Monday.” The young man was provided shelter in a private home for the weekend, and then sent to Penticton where he will be placed in a group home. “The hardest part is I can’t completely help them no matter what. We put a band aid on it.” Princeton Crisis Assistance is funded entirely by proceeds from its Thrift Store on Vermilion Avenue, and donations from the community and local businesses. Valley First Credit Union is a major supporter of the program, making several cash donations each year from various
fundraisers, and last year Copper Mountain Mine played Santa by paying off the program’s bills at the end of the year. “The more money we have the more money we can put out to other people,” said Brewer. She said in addition to paying for food and shelter, the program’s expenses include $425 per month in rent to the Town of Princeton, which owns the Thrift Store building. Another $200 per month in rent is paid to St. Paul’s United Church for a room to house the food cupboard. Brewer is not aware at this time of anyone living on the streets of Princeton or in a car. “I’ve never seen it personally. I’ve never had anyone come into the store and say that,” she said. “They are not living on the street per say but couch surfing, getting kicked out, that seems to be what I see the most.” During summer months Princeton sees more people “on the streets” because of transients associated with fruit orchards in nearby communities. “Some people live in their tents,” she said. Business is also booming for Princeton’s Cindy Parolin Safe House, the women’s shelter operated by the Family Services Centre. Manager Dani Grothe said that while the centre’s mandate is to provide emergency housing for women and children who are leaving unsafe domestic situations, she is fielding an increasing number of calls from clients who simply have no place to live. “It’s added pressure because we only have so much funding and trying to help people that don’t have a place to go – it’s not what we do but how do you turn someone away?” Brewer and Grothe agree the town needs a homeless shelter and Brewer said that issue will be discussed at an upcoming meeting of local social service agencies. Al Kovaltsenko, who operates Shining His Light Ministries and is a former manager of the Princeton Crisis Assistance, recently opened a second food bank in town to assist the needy. continued page 11
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