Siloam Mission Finds Support In The Pembina Valley For $12 Million Expansion

Officials with Siloam Mission shared details of their upcoming expansion project with supporters in Winkler this week.

The Winnipeg-based homeless shelter currently offers 110 shelter beds, but turns away close to 20 people every night.

Likewise serving 1,300 meals every day, hundreds of people are forced to wait outside in all weather conditions.

To that end Siloam has embarked on a $12 million expansion. So far they've raised approximately $9 million.

CEO Jim Bell says they are preparing for a grand opening in October before the temperature drops again.

A number of staff members travelled to Winkler to give an update on their work in the Province's capital.

"I've come to understand how caring and how giving this community is towards the cause of Siloam Mission," he says. "Manitoban have giving hearts, no better example than here."

Winkler resident Tessa Kort organizes an annual clothing drive for Siloam Mission out of her workplace at Janzen's Pontiac.

"Really an hour away from us we have a lot of homeless people, and with the weather here it's a lot harder, so I wanted to do something for them," Kort says.

"They're just like us, when you get to know them all they really want is have an open ear to listen," Kort says. "You walk past them but you don't really think, "what's their story?'"

Since starting as CEO Bell says homelessness can strike unexpectedly, whether it's the sudden onset of mental illness, financial hardships, or relationship fall-outs.

"We need to demonstrate our care and love for our neighbours," he says. "And do whatever we can to help them physically, mentally and spiritually."

Later this fall, plans include expand their shelter bed space.

"We're really excited about that but we have a lot of work to do," he says.