This is the 36th in a series of columns written by staff from The Lighthouse to help the community better understand people experiencing homelessness and those who support them. This column appears every other Monday.
We often receive questions about the work we do at The Lighthouse. Today, we want to clarify two myths circulating in Orillia:
Myth 1: We do not accept 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.
Myth 2: We operate a bus to pick up people experiencing homelessness from other communities and bring them back to The Lighthouse.
Both of these statements are false.
At The Lighthouse, we strive to create the safest environment for everyone who stays with us. The emergency shelter is a congregate living setting for short-term stays, where we serve up to 60 individuals, each with unique needs. While it’s challenging to meet every need, we have established expectations to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants, staff and volunteers.
We do not discriminate. If we have a bed available, there are no current service restrictions, and if individuals are experiencing homelessness, we are committed to providing shelter for everyone.
The Lighthouse operates an outreach vehicle stocked with essential items for individuals experiencing homelessness, including socks, clothing, harm-reduction supplies, snacks, and water. This vehicle is equipped with two seats for our outreach workers, who work in pairs, and it is currently the only vehicle we own. We do not have a vehicle to transport participants, nor are we aware of any organization that operates a bus to transport individuals to The Lighthouse. This simply does not happen.
If someone is experiencing homelessness, we do everything we can to support them, regardless of where they come from. While the majority of the population we serve is from the Orillia area, we recognize people from other communities also come here to reconnect with resources and people they may know in the area or to seek a fresh start, just as people from Orillia go to other communities for similar reasons.
Our current facilities were based on a vision to address the specific needs in Orillia, including shelters for men, women and youth. This vision began 10 years ago with the Building Hope campaign, aimed at filling critical gaps in our community. We opened our doors during the global pandemic, a time when the housing crisis was already significant. It has only worsened since. Now, more than ever, we see an increase in homelessness due to this ongoing crisis. Ending homelessness is a significant challenge that requires collaboration among all levels of government, non-profits, and communities. Together, we can make a meaningful impact.
As a non-profit organization, we are dedicated to supporting our community through this crisis. Our staff team and volunteers are compassionate, experienced and hard-working individuals who are making a difference.
The Lighthouse serves everyone.
Everything we do is guided by our vision: a thriving community where everyone has hope, home and a future.
If you have any questions or have heard a rumour or myth about The Lighthouse that may not be true, we encourage you to reach out. Our executive director and managing director are more than happy to answer any inquiries you may have. You can reach us at [email protected] or [email protected].
Linda Goodall is the executive director at The Lighthouse and can be reached at [email protected].
Rosemary Petersen is the managing director at The Lighthouse and can be reached at [email protected].
