the broken typewriter

Three thousand individual households are registered with the Salvation Army’s Foodbank in Fort St. John, with 400 of these clients registering since January, according to the FSJ Salvation Army’s executive director, Jared Braun.

“If we were to count all the unique individuals, it’s up over 11,000 I think,” Braun said.

The Salvation Army has long been a valuable source of assistance for residents of the city and surrounding area, through its Community and Family Service Centre, foodbank, thrift store, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and church.

This year, the need for assistance at all levels has increased sharply, not just at the foodbank. Braun says that on average, 40 to 60 people a day come to the Community and Family Service Centre, seeking assistance in one form or another.

“One of the other things we’ve seen increase is support for refugees coming to Fort St. John and area. We had a family from Wonowon, who are refugees from Ukraine that’s come in, registered, and requested Christmas hampers, they have 11 kids. We’ve had multiple families like that this year.”

“Most of us have struggled this year in particular with the economic challenges that have begun to build.  We’ve all gone to the grocery store, run our groceries through the till and cringed a little bit at the end, with the little bit that we got and how much it has cost us,” he said.

“It’s no wonder then, that the Foodbank’s Canada Hunger Count identified close to two million visits to the Foodbanks across Canada in March.”

Since January, the Salvation Army has distributed over 230,000 lbs of food through the Foodbank.

Between 15-20,000 items are sold through the Thrift Store every month, at very low prices, said Braun. “There’s also the environmental benefit that is approximately 200,000 lbs of textiles are diverted from the landfill every single year. Sales from the Thrift Store are anticipated to be $300,000 in the fiscal year, and the revenues provided employment for seven staff and all profits stay in Fort St. John to support our social programs.”

The challenges are also being felt in housing programs. In March 2023, a point-in-time homeless count was held in Fort St. John.

The results were that 102 individuals were identified as homeless up from 76 in 2020. Forty-five per cent of those were sheltered, 55% per unsheltered; 2% are youth (under 25), 85% are between 25-54, and 13% are seniors 55+. Sixty-five per cent are men, 35% are women.

Despite rumours in the community that the increase in the number of homeless people in Fort St. John is due to people being “shipped” in from other communities, Braun says this is not at all true.

“The point-in-time count identified that 88% have been in Fort St. John for more than one year; 76% were 5 years or more; and 21% have been here all their lives,” he said. “These are our neighbours, our friends, our colleagues, our relatives. And though it may seem like things are getting worse than better, we do see positive impact and life change happening.”

People have expressed concerns about the number of emergency shelter beds available in the winter. Since the opening of the original Northern Centre of Hope building, the Salvation Army has had an agreement with BC Housing to provide 24 emergency shelter beds year-round. Each winter, from November to March, they’ve added an additional agreement to provide 26 temporary shelter beds.

“Through experience we’ve realized that 50 beds are too many for the capacity of the building, safety of our staff and our ability to provide as dignified experience as possible for all of our guests,” Braun said. “We amended our year-round agreement to increase to 30 beds, which we feel is manageable, and we’re working actively to move people from shelter into either one of our other programs, or into the community, thus maintaining shelter bed access to those in emergency situations.”

Through the different housing programs at the Northern Centre of Hope, Braun says they have provided 108 beds. “Although we like to think of it more as the opportunity to serve 108 individuals. Since January, we’ve provided 7849 shelter bed nights, nearly 7,000 hot meals have been served and 566 referrals have been provided.”

The community requires additional housing support, and Braun is grateful to BC Housing for pursuing a plan with a new or existing operator in the community to compliment what they’re already doing.

“We’re also encouraged by the active engagement the City is taking to be part of the solution with both the Housing First and the Situation Table initiatives that are in the works.”

“The weight of it all can seem daunting at times. But it doesn’t change our mission. The Salvation Army’s mission is that we exist to share the love of Jesus, to meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of the world. That’s what our team shows up to do, every day, and the outcomes are significant.”

To continue to help raise funds for the programs serving Fort St. John and area, the Salvation Army has kicked off its annual Christmas Kettle Campaign, with Kettles in 17 locations around the city manned by faithful volunteers. On Monday, at its regular meeting, Fort St. John City Council proclaimed the month of December 2023 to be Red Kettle month.

In addition to the Kettles, the Fort St. John Huskies will hold their annual Fill the Bus food drive for the Foodbank, this weekend. In previous years, residents would bring their donations to the North Peace Arena where the Huskies’ bus would be parked, but since Covid the food drive has changed a little, said Braun.

The drop off spot is now at the Foodbank on 100 Ave. Volunteers who are picking up donations around town bring the food straight to the Foodbank and put them on the shelves.

“It has been tremendously helpful in making the most of that fundraiser,” he said. Huskies’ Fill the Bus Food Drive is this Sunday, December 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.