Homeless Helper volunteers want free shower program reinstated in Summerside

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SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — A Summerside lady is annoyed that, presently, the town’s homeless inhabitants is and not using a place to bathe.

Based on Elysha Whitlock, a volunteer with the Homeless Helper, the Credit score Union Place (CUP) supplied free showers for homeless residents till the beginning of August. This system has run since final winter.

Three weeks in the past, Whitlock started receiving cellphone calls from shoppers who had been informed that they weren’t permitted to bathe. Each time, she would present as much as the CUP, and he or she mentioned the state of affairs could be remedied.

“Two weeks in the past, we had three shoppers go there to bathe, they known as me fairly upset,” mentioned Whitlock. “I arrived on the Credit score Union Place simply to search out out that they’ve modified it, and they’re not providing free showers to the homeless neighborhood members of Summerside.”

Since then, Whitlock mentioned, each time a homeless resident was in want of a bathe, she has paid out of pocket – greater than $5 – for them. Out of all of the Homeless Helper’s shoppers, Whitlock mentioned 14 of them had been showering on the CUP.

Whitlock started speaking with metropolis councillors about reinstating the free bathe program. As of the morning of Aug. 22, she mentioned she had not been informed whether or not the town would deliver it again.

“We’re down to at least one bathe cross out of the final bundle that I went and bought from the Credit score Union Place,” mentioned Whitlock. “No one has come to us with any kind of answer as to how our shoppers can simply get a primary five-minute bathe.”

The bathe program was a dialogue matter on the Aug. 21 council assembly.

On the assembly, Coun. Cory Snow and Mayor Dan Kutcher informed a Homeless Helper volunteer that they’d been in touch with Whitlock, and that metropolis workers held a gathering about this system that day.

Kutcher added that he has been in common conversations with the province concerning bringing extra assist for the homeless to Summerside.

“We will’t simply flip switches in authorities, sadly, to do sure issues. We’ve to work throughout the parameters that we’ve,” mentioned Kutcher. “On this showers (assembly) right this moment, the end result of that was, that is one thing we need to get finished as quickly as doable. We’re not gonna put up with pushing issues down the highway.”

Regardless of the hurdles presently confronted, Whitlock stays optimistic that this system will likely be reinstated and her shoppers can have a spot to get clear.

“I’m extraordinarily hopeful that the Metropolis of Summerside does the best factor right here,” mentioned Whitlock.

“Our shoppers are already going with out the fundamental requirements of shelter. Grateful to our program and different assets situated in Summerside, they’re receiving meals. However to now take away their proper to bathe, when these persons are residing on the streets, it’s past merciless.”

Kristin Gardiner is a reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. She will be reached by e mail at [email protected] and adopted on X @KristinGardiner.