Enthusiastic Squamites have another good excuse to lace up and get outside. The first Coldest Night of the Year walk is scheduled for Feb. 20.
The aim of the event is to raise funds for the work of Sea to Sky Community Services and awareness about Squamish homelessness, according to Estelle Taylor, communications and fundraising manager of the charitable organization.
Taylor said it’s an opportunity to publicize the need for more affordable housing and to support people who are struggling with mental health and addiction problems who may be homeless.
Sponsored teams can choose to walk two-, five- or 10-kilometre routes starting and ending downtown at the Squamish Seniors’ Centre. A warm meal will be served after the walk.
The goal is for 15 teams to raise at least $25,000, Taylor said.
Sea to Sky Community Services is seeing an increase in people accessing its services and in people who have significant mental health problems, according to Taylor. The increase is due to multiple factors, Taylor said, but high rental costs mean landlords can ask higher prices and be more choosy when picking renters.
“They are able to find people for their apartments who are going to be super-great, stable tenants, and so people who otherwise would have been able to find a place can’t now,” she said.
That leaves people who may have mental health or addictions issues with fewer options for housing, Taylor said.
Squamish does not have supportive housing, and provincial funding is not enough to cover rent, Taylor added. Most on income assistance receive $610 a month, while those on disability receive $906.
“And that is all in,” Taylor said. “That’s got to cover your food, your rent, all your living expenses.”
To organize the run, Taylor turned to Cindy Cardiff who has organized many events in Squamish in the past including the former Squamish Christmas Market.
“We work well together,” said Cardiff of her collaboration with Taylor.
Sea to Sky Community Services operates Castle Rock and Riverstones affordable housing complexes, runs homeless outreach programs and helps people with addictions through its support of a corridor recovery house, among other programs.
“We all talk about the need for more support to prevent homelessness. Well, now it’s time to walk the talk,” said Taylor.
To sign up for the run, go to coldestnightoftheyear.org/charity/sscs.
