Strathmore Overnight Shelter sustains visitor health

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By Emma Swanson Times Reporter

The Strathmore Overnight Shelter (SOS) is sustaining visitor health amid recent COVID-19 supplies shortages.
“There’s a high demand for supplies,” said SOS Executive Director Elizabeth Karp. “You can’t find anything.”
Cleaning supplies SOS has shortages on includes gloves that volunteers wear for protection. Karp said although getting hold of cleaning supplies has been “really hard,” the SOS is “staying on top” of hygiene.
“I’m not worried because we’re pretty adamant about hand washing,” she noted.
The shelter frequently disinfects surfaces, practices personal hygiene and encourages no close connections between people.
Despite food shortages in grocery stores, the SOS has maintained a supply of base foods for dinner each night.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Karp said there have been more visitors from Calgary to the shelter.
“People with compromised respiratory systems are afraid to be in Calgary shelters,” she said, adding that with the new visitors, the SOS “won’t turn anyone away.
“Different people have different situations,” said Karp, whether it be mental illness, addiction, or “people who are out on their luck.”
The shelter averages six to 10 visitors per night and has moved around beds to double their accommodation capacity from 10 visitors to 20 visitors since opening in 2018.
SOS doesn’t plan on expanding its accommodation capacity any further; in the case that they have more visitors than accommodations, they always have extra space in the common room.
In supporting the SOS, Karp said the community has been “super good about donating.” Although, “it can be tough getting people on board to volunteer.” But the volunteers they have “are absolutely priceless; the SOS wouldn’t run without them,” said Karp.
Awareness and fund support generated from the Walk In from the Cold fundraiser, held on March 1 to raise awareness about the homeless in Strathmore, was a “huge success. It went super well and was super well attended.”
“I’m thankful the mayor got involved and walked,” said Karp, “we’re building positive relationships. I’m thankful for the town working with us, the volunteers and the community.”