For the hundreds of homeless people in Saskatoon, life is a challenge — to say the least. But the newly-formed Bridge City Warmth (BSW) is out there trying to help.
About 29 BSW volunteers have been posting videos of their work on the streets, showing what it looks like for those who have no place to call home.
Those videos have gotten a lot of attention on social media — particularly their current fundraiser to help one homeless couple.
Ian Corrigal and his girlfriend are subject of a few of those videos. They are shown on video huddled under blankets in doorways at night, in frigid conditions. Bridge City Warmth volunteers decided they were in dire need of help.
“It was just that we couldn’t sleep that night. We wanted to do something for them,” said Melissa, one of the volunteers with BSW. Melissa did not want her last name used in the story because of the many calls she’s received personally about the help they provide.
She told CTV News Bridge City Warmth has been offering essentials like food and clothing to people on the street since early January.
They also help those who are unhoused with a space to warm up. They started a GoFundMe page to get the pair into a warm place and off the street.
“And we had raised enough money to get them in a hotel for a few nights. Since then, we have been able to get them more nights because of the GoFundMe page,” she said. Some of the money is also used for transportation, clothing and other much needed items.
With over $4,000 raised so far, Corrigal, who has been homeless for six years, is hoping he can get off drugs and on a path to a better life.
“I always have hope. I don’t have to worry about that. I just hope things will get better, obviously, like anybody else. I just want things to be better,” Corrigal told CTV News.
He and his girlfriend have been together for four years and are out on the street because they don’t want to be separated during the night at warm-up shelters. The Indian and Metis Friendship Centre is for women only overnight, while St. Mary’s Church offers its space to men only.
Corrigal would like to see consideration given to couples.
“They should make a rule, somebody who’s been together three years and more should probably not have to be separated at night,” he said.
With the current funds, the couple will be put up in a hotel for about another week, but there are no guarantees beyond that.
“We’re continuing to raise money for them. We want to extend their stay until they have the time to contact who they need to contact and get better with their situation,” Melissa said.
She says Bridge City Warmth volunteers are doing the best they can and have been disheartened by some negative comments on social media about the temporary help they are providing for Corrigal.
“And then there are comments about, oh, it’s just a few nights.”
She realizes it’s not a permanent solution but is happy it’s keeping them out of the cold.
Helping Corrigal and his partner was a decision based on necessity, and moving forward they’ll focus on their intended goal set out back in January.
“We’ll probably just be going to go back to our original purpose, because it can help more people that way,” she says.
They don’t rule out focusing their resources on an individual or couple again if the need arises.
They have collection drives planned where donations for food, clothing and other needed items can be dropped off. Details on what they do and where help is needed can be found on their Facebook page.
