FORT FRANCES – Emily Dickinson wrote that “hope is the thing with feathers.” In the border town of Fort Frances, HOPE is now the place with short-term accommodations for persons experiencing homelessness.
The six-bed HOPE Transitional House, located at the HOPE Centre on Victoria Avenue, got its “soft launch” last month and official opening this week.
“We feel it’s important because we lack so many services and of course we’re in a housing crisis like everyone else is throughout the province,” said Sandra Weir, the District of Rainy River Services Board’s integrated services manager (housing and homeless lead).
A media release from the board described Hope Transitional House’s opening as “a crucial step forward in addressing homelessness in the Rainy River District. The new program provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals transitioning to stable housing.”
In addition to shelter, the facility offers “personalized support to help residents gain the skills, resources and stability needed to achieve independence,” said the release.
Individuals can stay for up to one year while working with a housing and homelessness navigator, a services board employee hired to assist them on the journey to independence.
“We recognize that housing stability is a complex issue requiring a thoughtful and coordinated response,” said Weir.
“HOPE Transitional House is a reflection of our commitment to providing practical, compassionate solutions to help individuals regain independence and move forward with confidence.”
The transitional housing program is a logical “next phase” after the winter Out of the Cold warming centre and a safe bed program put together with the local Canadian Mental Health Association branch, she said.
The Rainy River district has “a lot of hidden homeless,” she said. The district’s By-Name List – a registry of people experiencing homelessness – has 86 names.
