Siloam Mission sees 'heartbreaking' increase in number of users

Tenant evictions, more transients and a lack of social housing are fuelling a "heartbreaking" increase in the number of meals being served at SiloamMission.

Siloam spokesperson Judy Richichi confirmed that the mission served 2,000 more meals in May than it did in April, which is an increase of 5,000 more meals than during this same time last year..

"Unfortunately, we've been seeing this kind of increase building over the last six months," Richichi said. "It breaks my heart to see these numbers going up this way."

Key factors fuelling the increase include more transients in Winnipeg, tenant evictions and a lack of low-income housing in the city.

People from outlying First Nations communities are coming to Winnipeg to live in greater numbers. And there is also an increase in the number of people from out of province who travel to Winnipeg looking for work.

As well, more people are being evicted from their residences now that the weather is better than in the colder months.

The city doesn't have the necessary low-income housing options to deal with the increase in people, Richichi said.

"There'sresidential development in the city but it'snot the kind of housing that helps our demographic," she said.

Staff also notice a difference in the composition of the people who use the facility.

"We're seeing a lot of new people, different ones from the core group who frequent here," she said.

The facility also operates a shelter. Fifty people have been moved out into other accommodations. But those spaces were immediately filled and there's a long waiting list.

Make Poverty History Manitoba is a coalition of business, education, aboriginal and labour representatives. The group advocates for provincial policy changes to reduce poverty in Manitoba.

According to Make Poverty History'sManitoba spokespersonMichaelBarkmen,Siloam'sincrease in use is staggeringbut it must be taken in context.

For instance, there's the perception there's a lot of homeless when in fact there are more working poor. Also, lack of childcare is causingmore families,women in particular, to use services like Siloam and Winnipeg Harvest.

Some relief could be on the way though, Barkmen said.

Some homelessness may be stemmed by provincial rent subsidies, which commence in July. And while the province has built more social housing units it needs to be more strategic about where they are located.

"They need to increase the supply of them around Siloam and the north end," Barkmen said. "This is one of the biggest needs we see."

At Siloam, resources are stretched but the facility is managing, Richichi said.

However, immediate short-term needs include underwear for men and women,jeans and runners, as well as hygiene products such as razors and conditioner.

The increase in the number of meals served at the facility isn'tan anomaly. Staff have seen a steady increase over time.

Between 2013 to 2015 the number of meals served went from 420,000 to 471,000 - an increase of 51,000 meals.

The main eating area seats 140. Staff have to rotate everyone out an average of three to four times an hour to accommodate the people waiting in line.

The waiting line is most problematic in the winter months when the temperature dips to -30C.

"Nobody should have to stand outside waiting for a meal or a bed," Richichi said. "This is not a trend we want to see continue."

In the long term, the facility is planning to expand its programs, services and drop in centre to meet the increase in usage.