5 Real Ways to Help End Homelessness this Summer

It’s been a scorching June! We at the Society to End Homelessness have been doing our best to help our most vulnerable neighbours meet their basic necessities and keep cool during this extreme hot weather season. As we come to the last few days of the June Great Canadian Giving Challenge, we’ve compiled a list of ways you can help us end homelessness this summer

1. End the Stigma

The most important and easiest way to help end homelessness is to help end the stigma around individuals experiencing homelessness.

There are various myths and misconceptions around the issue of homelessness. Some believe that it is a choice; there is the idea that people experiencing homelessness can simply pick themselves up “by the bootstraps” if they wanted to, and that they are unhoused simply because they are lazy. However, homelessness is not a choice and there are many reasons why people experience homelessness, including the lack of structural supports for those experiencing poverty, job loss, and inadequate discharge planning for those leaving hospitals, correctional facilities and mental health facilities.

Helping end the stigma surrounding homelessness by educating yourself and others on the issue is already half the battle!
For further info, visit: www.homelesshub.ca

2. Donate Food and Supplies to our Outreach Resource Centres

Take a tour of our Thurs Outreach Resource Centre

The Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby operates two weekly Outreach Resource Centres (ORC) that distributes basic life necessities and offers essential services to our guests such as healthcare and outreach services. Additionally, our weekly Thursday ORC operates jointly as a community Food Hub.

We are always in need of food and other supplies at the ORC, and especially appreciate donations of water, sunscreen, and other cooling supplies and equipment during this extreme hot weather season to help keep our guests cool.

If you wish to donate items, please call our Executive Director Carol-Ann at (604) 200-0712 to arrange a time for donation drop off.

3. Volunteer at our Outreach Resource Centres

Hear what our volunteers have to say about volunteering at our Thurs ORC

The Society To End Homelessness In Burnaby operates Outreach Resource Centres (ORC) every Wednesday at 9:30 AM in the Metrotown Area and every Thursday at 9 AM at Southside Community Church. We work collaboratively with local agencies, businesses and faith communities to provide essential services for our guest.

The ORC operates solely on volunteers and donations from businesses, faith community members and concerned citizens. The greatest benefit of working at the Outreach Resource Centre is knowing that your contribution is assisting people in genuine need.

If you are interested in volunteering your time with us at the ORCs, here is a list of available positions. Please fill out the application form here and email it to us at info@burnabyhomeless.org.

4. Volunteer at our Special Events

If a weekly volunteer commitment is not possible for you, the Society also holds annual events that are in need of volunteers.

Upcoming events:

Visit our Volunteer Page for more information on how to apply.

 5. Donate!

Since June 1st, every $1* donated to the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby on CanadaHelps is an automatic chance to WIN $20,000 for us! Thank you to everyone who donated so far! There’s a few days left to donate yet!

For more than a year, we have been on the frontlines helping those most impacted by COVID-19, including those who are isolated or accessing emergency resources such as shelter or food. Through it all, we have continued their critical work even while facing challenges including declining donations. Now more than ever, we need your help to continue providing essential services to Burnaby’s most vulnerable citizens.

Donate Now to help us help those in need!

*Donations must be made via CanadaHelps.org.
Minimum $3 donation required. Contest runs from June 1, 2021 at midnight Newfoundland Daylight Time (NDT) to June 30, 2021 at 11:59:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). See full rules at: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/givingchallenge-rules/