Dear Friends of the Den,
Please find attached:
- Creston Valley Den Society April Update
- Poster “When Homelessness Hits Close To Home – The Local Context” May 24 1 pm Creston Library
- Previous Letter of Support from Glenn Shannon, Oct 2024
Thank you!
Nancy DeVuono
Friends of the Den – April 2025 Update
- Attached please find a poster for the first in a series of Panel presentations at the Creston Public Library – “When Homelessness Hits Close to Home – The Local Context”. Scheduled for Saturday, My 24 at 1 pm. All are welcome. Thank you to Lisa Benschop (Creston Library) and all of the community organizations who are working together on this informational series. Future sessions will be held on June 14, Sept 6 and Sept 20 and will cover such topics as factors that contribute to homelessness, seniors and homelessness and the housing crisis in Canada.
- Homeless Shelter in Creston – We have heard nothing further from the Town of Creston and BC Housing regarding plans for a homeless shelter in Creston. Our community is very concerned that, without a plan, our unhoused neighbors will face another long, miserable fall and winter out in the cold. Discussion of possible locations and building projects are held in private between these two levels of government so the Den Society has no information to offer. If you would like to know what steps are being taken to shelter Creston’s unhoused, please write to Mayor DeBoon at Town Hall (Arnold.deboon@creston.ca), BC Housing (interiorregion@bchousing.org) and/or our local MLA, Brittny Anderson (brittnyanderson.mla@leg.bc.ca). Two surveys that have been conducted this winter indicate over 70% of Creston respondents are in favour of a shelter for the unhoused. The Den Society has assisted over 25 individuals since October. The former ambulance building remains empty.
- Upon his passing, Karen Shannon’s beloved husband Glenn asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Creston Valley Den Society. We are set up for automatic deposit so e-transfers can be sent to info@crestonvalleydensociety.ca. Cheques can be dropped off at Trinity United Church, with Cindy at Drop In, or mailed to me at 335 7th Ave S, Creston, BC, V0B1G3. Glenn’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 3 at 11 am at Trinity United. All are welcome.
- Glenn Shannon’s letter of support from October 2024 is attached, as a reminder of how many dozens of similar letters were sent to Town Hall this past year and why he was so dedicated to the cause of helping the homeless.
- All services for our unhoused and marginally housed will continue as long as possible through the summer, thanks to the amazing work of our volunteers, dedicated Board members and the monetary support we have received through grants and donations. Please let us know if you would like to be added to our volunteer list for Drop In or Cooking Bees. We were very touched recently to receive a $300 donation from the Social Justice Committee at Kootenay River Secondary School.
Thank you as always for your concern for and support of the unhoused in Creston,
Sincerely,
Nancy DeVuono
Board Chairperson
Creston Valley Den Society
2024 10 17
To Town of Creston Mayor and Council
I was impressed by how the United Church stepped up last year to run the first homeless shelter in such a short time. They ran a successful out of the cold shelter meeting the needs of Creston’s unhoused population. It is amazing what a small group of dedicated, caring people can do.
I understand that the Den Society (which evolved out of the Out of the Cold shelter) has put in a proposal to lease the ambulance building again to open a temporary winter shelter. I hear you are deliberating on whether to provide the old ambulance building to the Den Society to open a shelter again this year. If you had approved the lease for the Den Society they would be getting the place ready and hiring staff to get opened on November 1. Why are you hesitating?
Every community has to provide for their unhoursed with dignity and respect. Ignoring this situation is not an answer. Everybody needs access to toilets, showers, food, laundry and a warm place to sleep EVERY NIGHT. These are Creston citizens. Do your job and represent them as well. In my years as a Winnipeg City Police Officer I have seen far too many deceased homeless people. Let me tell you that seeing a person curled in a ball under cardboard frozen to death does not ever leave you. Every one of those deaths was preventable. It takes groups to step up and governments at all levels supporting their efforts.
I can only imagine how exhausting it is to be having to live on the streets being told to move along and being treated like scum. Where is your humanity? I challenge you to spend a few nights on the streets without any guarantee of food, toilets, showers, laundry or a place to sleep. Maybe you will find it enlightening.
Glenn Shannon
Creston BC
