A Place Called Home Update - CUPE 855

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair: Norm Price
1 st Vice Chair Lois Hunter
2 nd Vice Chair John Atkins
Treasurer: Zita Devan
Rae Munroe
Roger Worsley
Helen Yazdani
Patti Craig
Anna Friend
John Hassan
A Place Called Home Newsletter
Fall 2011
64 Lindsay Street South
Lindsay, Ontario, K9V 2M2
By the Numbers
Since 1997 we have provided
shelter to almost 3,500 people
Served over 11,000 meals
Provided over 5,400 bed
nights to residents
Negotiated over $120,000 in
emergency energy arrears
A Place Called Home will be
holding our annual General
Meeting on October 26 th at
Cambridge Street United
Church starting 7pm.
Please visit us at
www.aplacecalledhome.org
or call 705-328-0905
A Place Called Home Update
From the desk of Lorrie Polito, Director
I caught up with an old friend recently – one I had not seen since public school
days. As we caught up with each other this friend had many questions for me
about our work at A Place Called Home. During our conversation, I could see the
light come on.
He told me he had never thought
about who the homeless were in our
small community and his only
reference was from Canada’s west
coast where he had been
living for the past thirtyplus
years. My friend was
not only stunned that we
had people needing
shelter here but even
more surprising for him
was the fact that a lot of
our residents(individuals,
couples and families with children) had
no other supports in place to help out.
The stories of what caused a person to
become homeless are as varied as the
individuals themselves, but they all
share one trait...
when the layoff came, when the illness
set in, when the hydro bill became too
high or the family broke up... there
were no family or friends that were able
to step in and help. Our City
may not have what many view
as the typical homeless. People
sleeping in the streets and
alleys and begging on street
corners. Why Because A Place
Called Home is here and we
work hard to provide services
that enable people to have a
roof over their heads, food in their
stomachs and the supports necessary
to break the cycle of homelessness.
On the back of the newsletter are
some real examples of what life is like
for the persons that use our services.

• Gift of Shelter Christmas Cards
On Nov 12 th and Dec 9 th we will be selling our Gift of Shelter Christmas
• Homeless Awareness Week
On January 16 – 22 nd A Place Called Home will be observing Homeless
Awareness Week. We will be providing information and holding a
silent auction.
Give the Gift of Shelter
Our Gift of Shelter Christmas Cards will be
on sale starting November 1 st . Purchase
yours by dropping by our office at 64
Lindsay Street South or see us at Lindsay
Square Mall on Nov 12 th and Dec 9 th .
This Christmas when you are looking for a
unique gift to give friends, work colleagues,
a teacher and others on your list that are
difficult to buy for…. Please consider “A Gift
of Shelter”
Our ID specialist Tina Jackson can assist
you in replacing or applying for many
different types of ID including:
• SIN Cards • Status cards
• Drivers
Licenses
• Health
Cards
And More….
On the Web >>>
• Marriage
certificates
• Birth
Certificates
Website: www.aplacecalledhome.org
http://www.facebook.com/placecalledhome.residence
An on-line alternative to
make your donation Just
log onto
www.canadahelps.org
The stories below are real and there are hundreds more like
them...read on to see who the homeless of our community are.
Imagine, six months ago you and your
two children followed your husband
across the county so he could start a
new job and suddenly he was struck
down in the prime of his life. Both of
you were the only child and lost your
parents many years ago, there is no
life insurance, no family and your
friends are thousands of kilometers
away. Faced with a multi-crisis like
this...what do you do
The stories of what caused a person to become homeless are as varied as
the individuals themselves, but they all share one trait...when the layoff
came, when the illness set in, when the hydro bill became too high or the
family broke up...there were no family or friends that were able to step in
and help.
So they came to us.
~ For those who do not have a safe place to go at the end of the day… we can help.
Imagine you are a 16 year old girl who just
celebrated her birthday. After dinner your
parents informed you that just like your
older brother, they were not prepared to
support you now that you were 16 and
offered to take you to the shelter after you
packed up your belongings. What do you
do
Imagine the worst case scenario
that could happen to you and
your family with respect to your
housing...where all your resources
were used up and there was
nothing left to pay your rent or
mortgage and you had to leave
your home. How many of you
have a backup system...a good
friend, neighbour or an extended
family member who could take
you and your family in

8 TH ANNUAL MARK-A-THON
On August 13 th our walkers led by event namesake
Mark Fevang hit the streets of Lindsay for the 8 th
annual Mark-a-thon in support of A Place Called
Home. Through Mark’s efforts over $7,000 was
raised.
8 TH ANNUAL KAWARTHA LAKES CLASSIC
This year’s 8 th Annual
Kawartha Lakes
Classic Cycling Tour
brought wonderful
weather.
Once again we were
pleased to have BOB FM’s Dave Illman as our
Celebrity Rider. Also supporting our ride were
members of the CKL EMS Bike Team and the local Red
Cross who were on hand.
A Place Called Home would like to thank all our donors for
their generous support throughout the postal strike earlier
this year. Many not for profits in our area were negatively
impacted and we were no different.
Unfortunately, due to the disruption in mail service we are
facing a shortfall of almost 5 thousand dollars.
Help us keep the lights on at A Place Called Home!
COMMITTED TO CONSERVING ENERGY IN THE
KAWARTHAS SEMINAR
On September 15, 2011 Jennifer
Lopinski of our Emergency Home Energy
and Resource Program organized a
conservation seminar at the Moose
Lodge with over 80 people in
attendance. See her presentation on
our website at:
www.aplacecalledhome.org/seminar
Antique Show and Sale 2011
The 41 st Annual Antique
Show truly was an Antique
Extravaganza with 53
antique dealers from across
Ontario participating this
year. From Furniture to
Collectibles the event had
something for everyone.
Special thanks to our sponsors:

GEROME THE HOMELESS GNOME – CROSS CANADA TOUR
Once again Gerome the Garden Gnome had work all summer and did not have need
of our shelter services. Since the cold weather arrived, Gerome is again known as
Gerome the Homeless Gnome. This fall however he had an opportunity for a little
adventure (see pics here and on our website at www.aplacecalledhome.org) and
now has his own email address where you can send him well wishes, ask questions
or invite him to come with a helper to speak at your school, church or other group.
Send an email to Gerome at geromeagnome@gmail.com.
This year A Place Called Home is asking you
to support Gerome by donating the cost of
a room at our shelter for one, two, five or
more nights in our hostel at $48.58 per
night.
Since Gerome is a garden Gnome and can
hunker down in our office for the night, all
the money he collects will go toward
covering bednight costs for a man, woman
or child who needs a safe place to stay.
To see Gerome’s history – check out the
January 2011 Newsletter on our website.
STORYBOOK GOES DIGITAL
A Place Called Home:
Homeless Who me Is
now digital and can be
purchased from our main
office in .pdf format.
In-Kind is the Best Kind
Many of our partners and friends
regularly donate items to us. We
are always seeking the following:
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Deodorant and hygiene items
• Pillows and Towels
• Toothbrushes and Toothpaste
• Razors and Shaving Cream
We ask that if you wish to
donate large items that you
please call our office ahead of
time as we have limited space.
Ask a place called home >>>
Q:
A:
Q:
A:
Can you help me replace my ID
Yes, our identification clinic will help you replace missing ID including
Birth Certificates, landed immigrant papers, status cards and more...
I have no where to stay tonight. Who do I contact if I need help
You can call our office toll free at 1-866-520-2689 24 hours a day and
speak with our Hostel staff or come by the shelter at 64 Lindsay St. South
The Volunteer
Experience
Behind every successful organization
stands many volunteers. Our
organization is always looking for
individuals who would like to give
back and volunteer.
Please contact Dave at 705-328-0905
x 221