Andrea Gosselin is concerned.
The Canada Post worker has been walking around North Bay attempting to care for the 8-10 people who have nowhere to go at night to sleep.
“Over the last few weeks I have been off work so I have been taking this opportunity to get to see what is going on within the community,” Gosselin said. “When I lived in Sudbury I used to play guitar on the streets and raised money for different causes and got to know the people that were homeless and got to know their stories, which I have followed through with here.”
“I got to know a few of the individuals that are legitimately homeless. I asked these individuals if there were any shelters in town and they informed me that there are. There are guidelines in place and some of them are intoxicated so they can’t go into the shelters and they need to stay on the streets. I have been bringing blankets, making hot soup and just driving around to find the individuals and offer them some warmth and comfort.”
Gosselin says she carries around a naloxone kit in case she runs into a situation where someone needs to be revived from an overdose while she is making her rounds. Precautionary street work as she claims.
Gosselin says if people are interested in donating, she is accepting.
“I’m looking for some donations like plates or paper bowls or canned goods, just so I can continue doing this service on my own.”
As for the people she is helping, they are grateful.
“They have been so, so happy and they love my cooking,” Gosselin said with a laugh. “I hang out with them for about an hour and get to know them a bit more. I’m noticing there is a positive influence in the fact that you spend the time to get to know someone. When you take that time, that’s what heals and the community needs to understand to erase the stigma behind either homelessness or mental health because they go hand in hand.
“It is a vicious cycle.”
As for the community, Gosselin is challenging city hall to spend a night outdoors.
“I think it would be a good idea for them as far as perspective is concerned. I am sure they may have done something like that in the past for a couple of hours, but I challenge them to a full night. If they are walking around and getting to know these individuals so they can get a full picture of how it feels to be cold and have to walk around knowing that they have no money to go and buy a coffee.”
“I am willing to do it and I know a lot of the people who are staying in the shelters would be up for it as well to raise awareness.”
