By: Samantha Garber, Katherine Armitage, Maria Andrea Cruz, Emily Emanuel, Tanuja Singh

It’s a place that welcomes people who are struggling with homelessness and poverty. They can stay for just a meal or they can access a wider range of services that can help them meet their basic needs and improve their lives.

The doors at the Good Shepherd Ministries are open to everyone, although they are classified as a men’s shelter, they will feed and clothe anyone who walks through the door.

We believe that when thinking about families, men should not be excluded. These men may be fathers, brothers, husbands uncles and sons.

Through drug couselling services, housing and the many other services this agency provides, they are equipping these men with the tools they need to get their lives back on track.

Father Ed Keays plays a large role in helping these men get back in touch with their families and create a starting point for rebuilding relationships.

The Good Shepherd Ministries is affiliated with many other agencies that are equipped to house women and children such as Jessie’s Centre. They help connect these families with agencies that are able to offer a wider range of support and meet the needs of these families.

They are also associated with The Toronto Children’s Aid Society and The Ontario Disability Support Program.

There are many private benefactors and sponsors that contribute to this agency.

The Good Shepherd Ministries partners with the City of Toronto, Ministry of Health and Long term care, The Toronto Police, hospitals, Toronto Housing and many more.

Think Before You Judge.

Psychiatric disorders. Loss of income. Disability . Welfare. Alcoholism . Drug addiction . Marriage breakdown . Lone parenthood . Being a new immigrant or refugee. Loss of support such as foster care.

Food

Shelter

Resettlement Program (Housing)

Housing for Seniors (St. Joseph’s Residence)

Clothing

Addictions Counselors

On site medical clinic

On site AIDS hospice (Barret House)

Social workers/Caseworkers

Pastoral Care

Services such as immediate shelter are tapered off after 14 days, however the agency provides ongoing support and housing arrangements s long as needed and helps people find resources in order to hopefully assist them in enhancing their lives and escaping the vicious cycle of poverty.

The most obvious barrier is that they are not equipped to house women and children.

Another barrier is the location of the site we visited, it is located in downtown Toronto.

The wait time for housing and the limited amount of beds and housing presents a detrimental barrier that could make the difference between life and death.

There are currently an estimated 250,000 people in Canada who are homeless.

Poverty is one of the leading causes of homelessness.

Not all homelessness is visible meaning that not everyone who is homeless is living on the streets, some live with friends, in their cars, shelters etc.

Chronic Homelessness refers to: long-term or repeated homelessness, often experienced by those with chronic illness or addiction problems;

Cyclical homelessness, resulting from a change of circumstance, for example having been released from an institution; and

Temporary homelessness, relatively short in duration, sometimes caused by natural disasters or a house fire.

In reality……

This is a problem that spans all ages, all races, all socioeconomic classes.

The people this agency sees include, men, women, children, seniors, people who are gay, transgendered

We are ALL affected.

Newcomers to Canada, teenagers.

This can happen to ANYONE, so it is best to reserve making judgments and assumptions without knowing the facts.

We can help this agency in many ways.

This agency is always accepting volunteers and donations.

Another way we can help is by organizing food and clothing drives.

If you are interested in volunteering you can access this agency at :

www.goodshepherd.ca

There are many underlying issues and simply providing shelter will not solve this problem. We as global citizens, need to create awareness and educate ourselves on the many contributing factors that create homelessness and poverty. Through research and awareness campaigns we may be able to reach some of the root causes and make a difference.

Picture 1:http://www.google.ca/imgres?num=10&hl=en&biw=1441&bih=710&tbm=isch&tbnid=kpdEWf2txfvvmM:&imgrefurl=http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf13547&docid=Cao9oWN8lbnDzM&imgurl=http://media.avivacommunityfund.org/img/ideas/13547/750x350/Meal-line-at-Good-Shepherd-Centre-2.jpg&w=750&h=350&ei=JBKjUInCMOSbyQG_9YDADg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=435&vpy=400&dur=295&hovh=153&hovw=329&tx=159&ty=126&sig=110402236002893761063&page=1&tbnh=119&tbnw=230&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0,i:109

Picture 2:http://www.google.ca/imgres?num=10&hl=en&biw=1441&bih=710&tbm=isch&tbnid=Tnuj3ELAMWmfDM:&imgrefurl=http://www.torontosun.com/2012/11/09/homeless-canadian-veterans-get-helping-hand&docid=AMuPxQnE069UZM&imgurl=http://storage.canoe.ca/v1/dynamic_resize/sws_path/suns-prod-images/1297337168716_ORIGINAL.jpg%253Fquality%253D80%2526size%253D650x&w=650&h=433&ei=JBKjUInCMOSbyQG_9YDADg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1122&vpy=81&dur=155&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=164&ty=83&sig=110402236002893761063&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=199&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0,i:85

Picture 3:http://www.google.ca/imgres?num=10&hl=en&biw=1441&bih=710&tbm=isch&tbnid=0wgQYQM48u0zvM:&imgrefurl=http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1067512--volunteers-at-the-good-shepherd-centre-dish-up-more-than-turkey-for-thanksgiving-meal&docid=EmPEVQYDyDEZBM&imgurl=http://i.thestar.com/images/f4/0a/c33ce38746c0b4dad50fa943669a.jpeg&w=615&h=404&ei=JBKjUInCMOSbyQG_9YDADg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=623&vpy=153&dur=311&hovh=182&hovw=277&tx=91&ty=149&sig=110402236002893761063&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=198&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:75

Picture 4: http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=homelessness&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rlz=1R2ADSA_enCA497&tbm=isch&tbnid=bEtcwtpBRz2s9M:&imgrefurl=http://fitnesshealthpros.com/psychological-study-of-homelessness/&docid=yYWESGWlFG89BM&imgurl=http://fitnesshealthpros.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Indigencia-en-EEUU-4.jpg&w=686&h=572&ei=pgClUOeaJoPi2gXrwoCgAQ&zoom=1&biw=1067&bih=496&iact=rc&dur=62&sig=117361758603124305257&page=2&tbnh=138&tbnw=147&start=11&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:11,i:198&tx=120&ty=38

Picture 5: http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=homelessness&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rlz=1R2ADSA_enCA497&tbm=isch&tbnid=Ae9GcDhP74KRUM:&imgrefurl=http://sadhbhwalshe.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/the-high-price-of-homelessness/&docid=K8aj4oNiAe4LqM&imgurl=http://sadhbhwalshe.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/homelessness.jpg&w=300&h=300&ei=zhClUJeYKuPU2AXt3ICICQ&zoom=1&biw=1067&bih=496&iact=rc&dur=0&sig=117361758603124305257&page=4&tbnh=148&tbnw=146&start=41&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:41,i:299&tx=74&ty=23

http://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/page.aspx?pid=551

http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/researchpublications/prb0830-e.htm