Menu

Shelters

31028518766_b3033c1ece-e1541427231164

NWHU Working To Vaccinate Homeless Population

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Northwestern Health Unit is working hard to make sure the most vulnerable get their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Medical Officer of Health Doctor Kit Young Hoon explains that includes the transient population.

“We are working to do targeted vaccination of the homeless/transient population,” says Young Hoon, “It’s happening in many communities…it just depends on the ability to reach that population. The effort is focusing on shelters and drop-in centres.”

She tells us that unlike normal vaccine clinics, it’s hard to get exact data on how the effort is going.

“It is a very fluid population so it is about trying to reach them where they are at…that makes it hard to pin down a number.”

Doctor Young Hoon adds that unlike mass vaccination clinics, which are due to start in earnest next week across the province, you shouldn’t expect to hear anything about them beforehand.

“At this point, we are not publicising clinics ahead of time due to security and privacy, especially in these kinds of clinics where the setting is a little more challenging to control.”

The effort comes following a surge of COVID-19 cases among the homeless population in Thunder Bay.

Trudeau-Update-March-29-800x450-2

Federal Funding To Support Vulnerable People

, , , , ,

The federal government is providing help for the country’s most vulnerable communities.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says they are committing $200 million for shelters.

“If you can’t go home because it isn’t safe or because you don’t have a home, we’re not going to forget you. If you need to get away from domestic violence or violence because of your gender, there are places you can go and be safe.”

Additionally, the government will be allocating $9 million to help seniors with things like health check-ups and grocery deliveries through the New Horizons program.

An additional $7.5 million will go towards supporting the Kids Help Phone.

Trudeau took time on the weekend to thank the employees and volunteers who work for these groups.

“I know it’s been hard lately. Not just because more and more people need your help. But because you’re struggling to keep doing this work for marginalized and vulnerable people during a public health crisis on a scale that Canada has never before seen.”

Because of that, Trudeau stresses additional support will be coming in the next few days.