Siloam Mission

The Street Census is a Point-in-Time (PIT) count that surveys people experiencing homelessness across Canada, providing a snapshot of crucial data to better understand homelessness, advocate for solutions, and influence local, provincial, and national programming. Over these next four days (November 6-9), volunteers will speak with individuals throughout Winnipeg to better understand their situation. Siloam is honoured to be part of the Street Census planning and research process, volunteer recruitment, and service provision. We look forward to learning the results and how we can continue to advocate for a Winnipeg without chronic homelessness.

Today we observe the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. We solemnly take this time to reflect on the 231 Calls to Justice and the ongoing need for accountability and protection. At Siloam Mission, we stand with those advocating for safety, justice, and healing. We are committed to raising awareness and working towards a future where everyone is safe, respected, and valued while responding to the MMIWG2S+ Calls to Justice through our services, programs, and policies.

You can help make our vision of a Winnipeg without Chronic Homelessness a reality. Find out more about these opportunities at siloam.ca/careers.

Tomorrow is International Overdose Awareness Day. It's a day to remember without stigma those who have died, acknowledging the grief of those left behind. If you're in the area today, there is an event at the MB Legislative Building from 10 AM - 1 PM to help raise awareness and honour those who have been lost.    This is a crisis that claims the lives of more than 20 Canadians every single day. At Siloam Mission, our staff are regularly reversing drug poisonings (also referred to as overdoses), performing life-saving work far too often.    Ways to prevent and reduce drug poisonings exist. We know that, in most cases, substance use is a response to trauma – making it a healthcare issue.    In July, a way forward was announced to help Winnipeg combat this health crisis: a safer consumption site. Safer consumption sites have been proven to reduce harm, save lives, and offer stigma-free pathways to treatment and recovery.    We have seen proof of this at Siloam. As we transitioned from a sober entry policy to a behaviour based policy, we saw more people asking about treatment for their substance use. By reducing the stigma about usage, more people have entered into treatment – potentially saving their lives.    Understandably there are questions and concerns that arise when safer consumption sites are brought up.   ▫ They do not become a free-for-all, allowing people to use whatever substance they’d like with no repercussions. ▫ They do not encourage substance use. Instead, they provide a safer environment for people who are already using substances. ▫ They do not attract crime. Instead, they reduce crime by providing a safer and supervised space for substance use ― reducing public substance use and associated criminal activity. Safer consumption sites prevent people from resorting to using behind buildings, in back alleys, and parks.  ▫ It is actually the criminalization of substance use that is primarily responsible for the crime-related impacts often cited when opposing safer consumption sites.   If you are curious to learn more, you can find information: ◾ about International Overdose Awareness Day at www.overdoseday.com    ◾ about safer consumption sites, including statistics about existing sites across Canada at https://lnkd.in/gm5JajE3

It's our birthday tomorrow! Since August 24, 1987, we’ve been transforming lives in Winnipeg through emergency shelter, meals, housing, and more. If you’re passionate about making an impact, explore our career opportunities at siloam.ca/careers

Community collaboration is essential to what we do. Thanks for inviting us to help! 🙏

We've officially started and harvested from our vertical farm! Our first batch of seedlings were planted in June and have already been used for lunch! Thanks so much to everyone who made this possible, especially Little Greenhouse That Could. The basil and lettuce we’ve harvested so far have been delicious, and we’re looking forward to meals featuring these fresh greens in the future.

Do you have a passion for helping people? Are you interested in working to eliminate chronic homelessness? You may be exactly who we're looking for. Visit siloam.ca/careers to read more about these positions and apply.

Today is International Day of The World’s Indigenous Peoples, a day to celebrate Indigenous people around the world and the knowledge they hold. If you're not familiar with it, today may be a good day to check out the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). It's the basis for the continuing work of the Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, and other similar work around the world.

Our Summer Newsletter is live! You can find the stories on our blog, they're the most recent stories posted: https://lnkd.in/e5VcJ9Fw We have the story of Dave, one of our long-time volunteers in the Drop In; a story about housing and everyone who helped make our newest supportive housing facility a home; and some myth-busting using information we've gathered from our shelter.