Sally Ann creates space in Centre for LGBTTQ* only

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This article was published 31/01/2018 (2953 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Part of the Booth Centre in downtown Winnipeg today will become the Salvation Army’s first shelter space in Winnipeg designated for LGBTTQ* community members.

“We believe there are people at risk who might literally die rather than go to a shelter,” said Salvation Army spokesman Maj. Rob Kerr. “We don’t want to see that happen.”

The 15 rooms,which were set aside for last winter’s influx of refugee claimants, are no longer needed and will be made available for homeless LGBTTQ* people where there is a greater need, Kerr said.

“(Tuesday) night we had five refugee claimants in the building,” Kerr said. “People are coming and going much quicker. Right now, the need for that is minimal.”

The need for safe shelter space for members of the LGBTTQ* community was noted in the 2015 Winnipeg Street Census, Kerr said.

“There was information that identified 23 per cent of the homeless population between the ages of 18 and 29 and more than 10 per cent of them identified as being part of the LGBTTQ* community,” Kerr said.

“They don’t regularly take advantage of, or use, a homeless shelter because they don’t feel safe there. How do we ensure that these folks have a place to go if they don’t feel safe?” Kerr asked. “We think there’s need and people will take advantage of this. But we don’t know for sure.” That’s why it’s a pilot project, he said.

Some members of the LGBTTQ* community have been leery of the Salvation Army’s offer of shelter space.

“We’ve got concerns about their lack of consultation,” said Rainbow Resource Centre executive director Mike Tutthill. He has toured the shelter space and met for the third time with the Salvation Army on Wednesday.

“They are going to be reaching out to us for some education and training which is good,” said Tutthill with the non-profit organization that provides support, education and resources to the LGBTTQ* community. “It does not negate the fact that they’re doing that after they open as opposed to beforehand, which would have been more ideal.”

Before Wednesday’s meeting, the Rainbow Resource Centre was informed that the Salvation Army’s LGBTTQ* shelter was a done deal, Tutthill said.

“We were told ‘this is happening’. At the initial meeting, we were told ‘We’re going ahead — with or without you.’”

Tutthill said he’s heard about LGBTTQ* folks anxious to get out of the Booth Centre because of how they’ve been treated by shelter users. “Others are belittling them and it’s not being stopped,” Tutthill said. That’s driven people out of the Main Street shelter and into situations where they’re sexually exploited, or staying with people in situations that aren’t safe, he said,

“Their history around LGBT folks is understood to not be favourable,” he said. “We’ve heard that’s changed, but that’s not been demonstrated yet. We’re concerned there’s no staff trained to work with LGBTTQ* populations… and (that there is) a real lack of understanding. People… are skeptical.”

The Salvation Army says it’s trying to better help people in need with its LGBTTQ* shelter.

“We know that we’ve been serving the LGBTTQ* community for years,” Kerr said. People aren’t screened for their sexual orientation or gender identity, he said. “We don’t ask. We serve without discrimination as we seek to provide a safe space,” he said.

“We want to make it a good experience,” Kerr said.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca