An opportunity in Langford is encouraging residents to build connections with and offer support to unhoused members of the community.
This initiative is called the ‘Greater Victoria Beacon of Hope.’
The goal is to bring the community closer together and make it easier for people to connect with and support those experiencing homelessness.
The way this program works is it provides light-up lapel pins or “Beacons” to members of the unhoused community, to help them signal their need for support.
This initiative was founded by two local individuals who have experienced being unhoused in Greater Victoria themselves.
In 2018, co-founder Shawn Pomeroy suffered a serious work injury while working as an aviation painter. Then in 2020, he was forced to sell his home after his WorkSafeBC benefits were abruptly cut off.
Because of this injury and lack of benefits he needed for support, Pomeroy has been unhoused for the last five years.
The initiative’s other co-founder, Kay Martin, overcame being unhoused, among other challenges for over 10 years.
In addition to her work with Beacon of Hope, she is also the founder of a successful anti-stigma workshop called ‘Face 2 Face with Stigma.’ Through this work, she has presented 70 workshops and conferences in just three years.
Both Kay and Pomeroy are passionate about finding ways to encourage communities to be more inclusive of unhoused people, remove stigma from the community surrounding the unhoused and to find new ways of supporting those experiencing homelessness.
As of the last Point-in-Time count, there are at least 1,665 unhoused individuals in Greater Victoria.
With this issue still pressing and affordability, housing security and mental health challenges only becoming worse, Kay and Pomeroy believe now is the time to take action.
Through this initiative, individuals in Langford and Greater Victoria can easily identify when help is wanted by a member of the unhoused community, and can offer assistance.
The Beacon of Hope co-founders say this assistance can come in the form of essential items such as socks or sleeping bags, a meal or coffee or even just a simple a conversation.
They hope this project inspires acts of kindness and understanding, encouraging positive connections between individuals.
“The Beacons of Hope project aims to facilitate interactions between individuals who require assistance and those who are able to provide support,” said Scott Goodmanson, Mayor of Langford.
“This initiative may lead to broader discussions about the needs and experiences of people who have faced challenges in the past, and how these insights can be beneficial for those currently in need.”
Langford’s mayor added that Beacon of Hope is a project like no other, allowing an unhoused person to request help, thus inviting those wishing to help a path to connection.
To launch this initiative, a town hall event will be held from 3 p.m. to 5p.m. on April 12th, at the Salvation Army’s Connection Point (#103-737 Goldstream Ave).
The town hall event will feature a presentation on the Beacon of Hope initiative and its origins, a personal story highlighting the project’s impact, opportunities for small group discussions on the initiative and an open floor for questions, comments and feedback.
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