Saturday may not have been Vernon's coldest night of the year according to Environment Canada, but a steady drizzle of rain nonetheless delivered the message: having no roof over one's head is a situation no one deserves.
The Vernon and District Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA Vernon) held its Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser Feb. 22. Starting at Civic Memorial Park, the fundraiser was a walk around downtown Vernon in support of the North Oknagan Rent Bank, which provides no-interest loans to help people avoid homelessness during financial emergencies.
Close to 200 people took part in the walk, and the event has raised more than $29,000 towards its goal of $40,000, with donations still coming in.
CMHA Vernon executive director Julia Payson kept her pre-walk speech brief as the rain was coming down. Just a few words were enough to convey that homelessness isn't just what one sees on the streets; it's a reality that weighs on people's minds, as many are just a missed paycheque away from being unable to pay their rent or bills and losing their homes, and the Rent Bank is an invaluable resource for such people when emergencies arise.
Payson shared a story of one person who told her the Rent Bank was their salvation.
"And not just the program but the staff," she told the crowd. "It's not just about a loan, it's about people like Jared, who he named specifically and said, 'Jared's kindness and compassion was what got me through.' This is about providing a real, tangible benefit like a loan, but it's also about holding a hand out to a neighbour."
Coldest Night of the Year started out as a fundraising event in 2011 and has grown from two Ontario locations to 207 nation-wide this year. By walking in the cold, participants get to feel a hint of the challenge faced by those experiencing homelessness during the winter. Some Coldest Night events support people directly experiencing homelessness, while the Vernon event, in supporting the Rent Bank, aims to help people avoid homelessness.
"It's really exciting to see that Coldest Night continues to have some people who have been doing it for years and years, even before we were able to start running it for the Rent Bank," Payson told The Morning Star.
When CMHA started up the Rent Bank, it thought it would need $30,000 annually for loans. But the Rent Bank went through that amount in six months and is now trending up towards $100,000 "because the need is so high in our community," Payson said.
"Having money come in to help us give more loans out is incredible," she said. "If we can prevent homelessness, it's so much easier than putting someone through the trauma of losing their home, especially if they're losing their home with their kids."
Vernon-Lumby MLA Harwinder Sandhu took part in the walk, as she's done for most Coldest Night fundraisers since 2012.
"It's absolutely amazing when we're looking out for one another, especially the most marginalized," she said. "The province is always happy to support the Rent B.C. program. It's making significant positive changes. My office connects many people, and it's really life-saving."
Coldest Night of the Year was made possible by a team of CMHA staff members and volunteers, and of course, the people who came out in the rain to take part.
"Thank you for showing our community again that we are here for each other," Payson said.
