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A new support group for London’s homeless took to the streets this weekend, offering food, water and a connection for those in need, said co-chairperson Marc Sweet.
Warmer Hearts London is looking to fill the gap in street-level response, given an established agency, 519Pursuit, operates from Monday to Friday.
On Saturday, about 20 people, most of whom are in recovery themselves, left the parking lot at Salvation Army Centre of Hope on Wellington Street and walked downtown, greeting the homeless and offering water, sandwiches, socks, and used clothing.
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“You give back when you can,” Sweet said. “We’re trying to connect with people. We’ve been there, almost everyone here has battled homelessness and mental health issues.”
Sweet is from Winnipeg and was one of the founders there of Warmer Hearts Winnipeg. He came to London for treatment and is now at the Centre of Hope, in the recovery community centre, and wants to help others get treatment.
“It’s been a godsend,” he said of the recovery facility. “I came here for recovery and it’s awesome. I came for treatments and didn’t want to go back to the same streets of Winnipeg that are rough. I made connections here.”
Warmer Hearts has the blessing of 519Pursuit, whose members have supported the new group by giving them food and clothing items to offer people in need.
“I think it’s great, personally. We’ve empowered them with basic items. We’re supporting the same folks,” said Allison DeBlaire, executive director of 519Pursuit, which now supports about 120 people daily but plans to ramp it up to 150 this summer.
Neriah Willems is co-chair of Warmer Hearts London. She was once homeless and says she’s motived to give “support” to other people in the same situation now.
“People like us, we’ve gone through this and we want to show them there’s another side,” Willems said. “We’re here not to judge but to help.”
To learn more about Warmer Hearts London, click here.
ndebono@postmedia.com
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