Siloam Mission changing entry rules, removing sobriety requirement
A Winnipeg homeless shelter is making changes to its entry policy and removing its sobriety requirement.
Siloam Mission announced Friday that instead of requiring people wanting entry to the shelter to be sober to enter, they must instead follow behaviour requirements.
Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud, the CEO of Siloam Mission, said in a news release that the decision was made to improve support, reduce violence and improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.
“We know that people using substances do so as a response to trauma in their lives,” Whitecloud said in a statement. “This can lead to an addiction or the addiction can bring more trauma. Offering these essential services to folks who are using is a part of reducing the stigma they experience and the shame they can experience, both of which reduce their capacity to seek help and start their recovery journey.”
The new behavioural expectations have been in the works and gradually implemented in the past year. People using Siloam Mission are required to be safe, respectful and focused on their needs.
“It becomes impractical and unfair to make sobriety required when someone who is sober can have aggressive behaviour, while someone who is using substances can be kind, helpful and loving to others in our space,” Whitecloud said.
Siloam Mission has also implemented “restorative practices” for when a person breaches the guidelines and needs a break from the services.
Whitecloud says they’ve seen a reduction in violent incidents and better communication between staff and clients since the new policy has taken effect.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man books $7,700 luxury villa on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he was charged more than $7,700 to book a luxury villa on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.