A group of volunteers with Veterans Emergency Transition Services Canada went door-to-door visiting Winnipeg shelters to find and meet homeless veterans for the first time.
The volunteers tried to connect with veterans who may have slipped through the cracks and raise awareness.
Winnipeg was one of 13 cities participating in a national search for veterans living in homelessness. VETS Canada says if you know a veteran in crisis, or living in poverty, the group wants to know about it.
Homelessness is way of life for veteran Allan Rogan, 65. He signed up for the Canadian armed forces at 15 years of age. Rogan served four years with the Royal Canadian Artillery in Niagara Falls.
He is proud of the time he served, and happy he met with VETS Canada volunteers. Rogan tried to get an apartment for two years, and the past couple weeks he called Siloam Mission home.
"Not everybody is there by choice, okay, they are there by circumstance," said Rogan outside the shelter.
VETS Canada believes there are about 2500 homeless veterans in Canada.
"I get sick to my stomach. It bothers me. If you served your country, you shouldn't be living on the street,” said volunteer Mark Vandersteen
Not every veteran wants help though. One veteran took a pamphlet on resources available to him, but volunteers don't know if he'll reach out in the future.
"It’s pretty heartbreaking. It's difficult to deal with because you want to help them and again they are not being receptive to the difficult situation they are in," said volunteer Major Mathiu Kuhn, who is an active member with the Royal Canadian Armed Forces from outside of Lighthouse Mission on Main Street.
People who would like to report a veteran in need of support can visit VETS Canada’s website or call 1 888-228-3871.
