Coldest Night highlights hidden homeless

There are homeless people in Yorkton. They can be found couch surfing or spending the night in the area around an ATM at a bank. Yorkton Transitional Home for Youth wants to raise the profile of the homeless problem in the city, and also raise money to help.

Peg Beaton, executive director of YTHY, says that the challenge they face is that very few people believe there is a homeless problem in Yorkton.

“They said we were the best kept secret in town... We’re just so busy looking after young people between the ages of 16 and 30 that we just don’t have time to get out and talk about it, but homelessness happens.”

The goal at YTHY is to provide a place for people to go so they can focus on school and work instead of worrying where they are going to sleep each night.

“They can become focused and get on with their lives, and become the community members we want in our community.”

The money raised at the walk will stay within Yorkton, and will be used for food. Beaton explains that the amount of food they need far outstrips their budget.

“Nine dollars a day is our budget for food, and that is not enough to feed ten hungry teenagers. Also, we have an outreach program, and in our outreach program people often come to us who have not eaten in two or three days.”

Sonya Solonas, independent living coordinator and outreach worker for YTHY, sees first hand what  the homelessness problem looks like in Yorkton, as her job involves finding people a place to stay when they do not have one.

“There is a lot of couch surfing, and a lot of people sleeping in the banks, in the warm areas of the banks. I have talked to banks, and there are often items of clothing that are left behind in the morning when they come in for their shifts, and garbage. They could tell people have been sleeping there.”

Solonas wants people to be more aware that there are homeless people in the city, and she hopes that the Coldest Night event will make people more aware of what is going on with homeless people in the city.

“I know with my position as outreach and independent living coordinator I do take those calls late at night.”

The Yorkton event has raised $12,311.25 at press time, out of a goal of $20,000. Beaton and Solonas both thank the community for the support, and Beaton adds that donations are still possible until the end of March. To support YTHY people can visit cnoy.org/yorkton or call 306-783-2340.