SOS Van Back on the Road Helping People in Thunder Bay
Shelter House’s SOS van is back on the streets of Thunder Bay after being shut down nearly three years ago.
The Street Outreach Service (SOS) program was stopped in September 2022 because of funding problems. But now, it’s running again every night from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., all year long.
Brendan Carlin, the executive director of Shelter House, made it a top goal to bring the van back when he started the job a year ago.
“We’ve spent the last year planning and getting everything ready to bring it back,” Carlin said.
The van was donated in 2020 by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 175 and 633. It helps transport vulnerable people in the community and gives them support right where they are. The SOS van helps take people to shelters, hands out snacks, water, harm reduction supplies, and even offers someone to talk to. It can also help keep people out of the emergency room by taking care of smaller needs on the street.
Carlin said the service is especially important at night when most other services are closed.
“Some people are far from services — maybe in the bush or way out on Arthur Street,” he explained. “This way they know someone will come by every night with food, water, or a ride to the hospital or shelter if they need it.”
The program also helps people who may not trust hospitals or police. Many have had traumatic experiences in the past.
“Some people don’t feel safe with institutions. The SOS van gives them a friendly face that doesn’t ask anything of them. Over time, we hope to build trust and connect them to the help they need,” Carlin said.
The SOS program is funded by the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB), the Lakehead Social Planning Council (LSPC), and the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre. DSSAB and LSPC are each giving $75,000 per year, and the Friendship Centre is contributing $100,000.
Bonnie Krysowaty from LSPC said the van helped many people when it first launched in 2013. It was used by hospitals, police, paramedics, and community groups.
“Some months there were close to 1,000 rides,” she said. “Police and paramedics were making up to 70 referrals per month.”
Carlin said there is funding to have two full-time staff on every night shift, plus a part-time and a few backup workers to cover when needed.
The SOS van will also take some pressure off the Care Bus, which runs in the winter. That bus sometimes has to go off its route to help people, but now the SOS van can handle more of those calls.
“If the Care Bus stays on its route, the SOS van can take care of other emergencies,” Carlin said.
If you need help from the SOS van, you can call or text 807-620-7678 between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. every day.
