Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre aims to be safe winter haven

By Kimberly Melo

JASPER PLACE — As the weather turns colder, the Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre gets busier.

Underprivileged men and women in Edmonton’s west end turn to the centre at 15210 Stony Plain Road to seek necessities such as food and clothing, as well as friendship and mentorship in their pursuit to obtain a healthy and stable lifestyle.

The centre provides basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter for homeless individuals. Staff and volunteers also provide companionship and counselling for men and women who face mental health and substance abuse issues, free of judgment.

A west Edmonton safe haven

Terri Wagner, a staff member at the wellness centre, engages with clients who use the centre and has provided friendship as well as a solid foundation of trust for those individuals who use the facility.

“Here at the wellness centre, we provide a safe place for help,” said Wagner. “The centre provides lunches, showers, clothing exchange, hygiene supplies, laundry, phones and computers for clients to keep in touch with family and to work on resumes.”

One of the greatest difficulties homeless people in Edmonton face is the cold, harsh winters. As the temperature begins to drop, the Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre prepares for an influx of clients.

“We definitely do see an increase in people accessing our services during the winter,” Wagner said. “We see more people here for meals and clothing. I would estimate our numbers jump as much as 50 per cent depending on the weather.”

In order to prepare for this increase in clientele, Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre hires more staff and volunteers. It also takes in supplies such as winter coats and clothing, provided by organizations such as United Way, private churches and various businesses that take part in clothing drives, said Wagner. The wellness centre is also beginning to extend its hours so it is more available to those in need of a warm shelter and a helping hand.

A brief history

A west Edmonton resident named Murray Soroka founded the Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre in 2006.

Soroka was a small business owner who wanted to make difference in the community, with support from his family, church and neighbours.

Soroka frequented the centre, interacting with clients on a regular basis. Here he began to notice that many men and women in the area were in dire need of a home. Soroka then created a program called Housing First, in order to provide those dealing with mental health and substance abuse issues with a place to call home.

Housing First

The Housing First program is unique because there is no sobriety required. First it helps people find a stable place to call home at locations such as Canora Place, and from there the program helps them tackle the issues that put them at risk.

Since Housing First began, it has provided housing for over 400 homeless people, and 85 per cent of whom have been able to stay off the streets permanently, according to statistics on the Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre website.

The Housing First project not only provides permanent homes, but also psychological and medical assistance. In order to pursue a road of success, one must be in a positive environment and state of mind.

Those who drop in to the Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre form relationships with other clients as well as staff members and volunteers. When a foundation of trust is formed and they realize they have a community of people who care about them, they move forward to pursue a permanent home through Housing First.

The Housing First project is funded by a municipal foundation called Homeward Trust, as well as through private donations and provincial funding.

What’s happening now with Housing First?

Scotti Coles, executive director for Housing First, addresses challenges the initiative faces regarding further production of housing complexes similar to the Canora complex.

“We do have plans to open up a second building,” said Coles. “ We are currently awaiting approval from Homeward Trust for further building.”

The new housing complex, once approved, will most like be built in the Terwillegar area. It is difficult to find a community that is open to including a complex to house homeless people with substance abuse issues, Coles said.

Housing First uses a “scattered housing approach.” This means it places people in homes around the city, rather than in one centralized housing facility. The clients still get support with life skills, Coles said. “Unlike Canora Place, they are put into regular apartments, to try to normalize their lives.”

Making a difference

The Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre has made a big difference for Donna Thompson, who has encountered friendship, faith and community there over the past four years.

“When I come here, I socialize, play crib, check out the books they have,” Thompson said. “I like coming here because you don’t feel judged when you need someone to talk to.”

Thompson has been both a client and a volunteer.

“Although I am not homeless, there are times a person needs comfort, and I receive that here,” said Thompson, who is currently living at a friend’s place. “We have become a close-knit family and help others overcome mental health and drug problems.”

Envisioning a future free of homelessness

The Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre is part of an municipal and provincial effort to eliminate homelessness by 2019. The completion of a permanent housing complex in the community of Canora in March and plans for more are steps in the direction of reaching this goal.

Donations can be made to the Jasper Place Health and Wellness Centre through their website at http://www.jphawc.ca/donate.html.