Dear Mayor DeBoon,
I would like to update you on the activities of the Creston Valley Den Society in the past several weeks.
Through the work of our dedicated volunteers, we have been providing sandwich lunches daily to our unhoused. On Saturday, we held our first “cooking bee” to prepare and package a large quantity of stews and soups for the freezer. Beginning this week we will be renting the Trinity United hall for a couple of hours a day. This will be a warming space where unhoused individuals can drop in for a hot meal, a kind word and connection to services. Thanks to our partnerships with Gleaners, other non-profits in the community, and outreach workers from Cranbrook, we have already been able to help several of our clients access benefits, re-establish their ID and reconnect with friends and family who may be able to help them improve their situation.
You may have heard that we have helped the tenters move from the Trinity United Church to the parking lot near the rear of the former Ambulance building. We have been careful to set up where we are not blocking access to any doors or current activities taking place at the Ambulance building. Through grants we have received and generous donation from caring citizens, we are able to provide the unhoused with winter camping gear and supplies. Of course nothing can replace the safety and security of being indoors as the temperatures continue to plummet. It is pouring rain today and their gear is already getting wet again. Thank you to the Town for the installation of the porta potty.
We have three requests for the Town. First, would you be able to turn on the electricity for the outdoor outlet at the rear of the Ambulance building? Without access to electricity, our unhoused will freeze. They are currently running a long extension cord to the front of the building which of course is not ideal for many reasons of safety and accessibility and would likely not be sustainable in wet and snowy weather. Second, we would like you to consider how you might help us make water available at the tent site. If you are able to give access to the back section of the Ambulance building to a trusted Den Society member or can winterize one of the outdoor taps, that would be fantastic. Finally, regarding garbage, we have purchased two silver garbage cans. Would you be able to provide weekly pickup, now that they are on municipal property? The volunteers at Trinity Thrift Store have been adding the garbage to their weekly dump run and could continue to do so if there is no alternative, just let us know. Any ideas and assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Please share this email with Councilors and Town Staff. I think we are all in agreement, that the best way to support our unhoused in Creston is to work together as a community. Please let us know the outcome of your community survey and any way we can help each other in the future. If any of the staff or councilors would like to meet the folks at the camp or do outreach, please call me. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Nancy DeVuono
Board Chair
On behalf of the Creston Valley Den Society
info@crestonvalleydensociety.ca