A new program will launch on May 1st and will bring basic nursing care to homeless individuals in downtown Barrie.
Starting Friday, a registered practical nurse will be walking Barrie downtowns streets with the Barrie Community Life Centre to tend to the city’s homeless who require basic medical attention.
Registered practical nurse Gord Shewfeld is spearheading the campaign.
“It’s the purest form of medicine care, we’re going to be going door-to-door homeless individuals, low income,” says Shewfeld. “We’re going to be looking at would care, in some case needle sites. Our services will absolutely not be judgemental.
Ken Tooby works closely with the city’s homeless and says there is a need for an outreach program like this because many people don’t seek treatment.
“Every day you will find somebody that has an ailment or something that is not treated. It can take a couple hours to cross town on transit or walk to the hospital, with a six hour wait and people won’t do it,” adds Tooby.
All of the supplies have been donated by local pharmacies.
The group will be looking for signs of infections and will be monitoring individuals closely, ready to refer them to a clinic or hospital when needed.
Patty spent a few years on the streets battling drug and alcohol addictions, she’s now clean and back on her feet and knows firsthand how badly first aid is needed among the homeless.
“It’s between life and death, some people have infections, some people can’t walk, they won’t go anywhere, they will get help right away,” adds Patty.
By reaching out, the group is also hoping they can cut down on the unnecessary backlog at clinics and at the hospital.
The group plans on dedicating ten hours a week and say the first step will be reaching out and building a relationship with the people they hope to help.
