For some, asking for help can be hard; so a new initiative launching in Langford will help the unhoused community “signal for help” instead, connecting with those around them.
Lighted lapel pins or ‘Beacons’ worn by those experiencing homelessness, will help the wider community easily identify when help is wanted and offer assistance in the form of essential items, such as socks, sleeping bags, a meal or coffee or even a conversation.
By creating a clear pathway for engagement, the Beacon of Hope team hopes the project will inspire acts of kindness and understanding, encouraging positive connections between individuals.
Two people who have experienced being unhoused are behind the new idea: Shawn Pomeroy and Kay Martin.
Pomeroy has been experiencing homelessness for the last five years after he was forced to sell his home when his WorkSafeBC benefits were abruptly cut off in 2020. He now lives in his vehicle, often parking at Colwood’s Esquimalt Lagoon.
While living in his vehicle, Pomeroy began to think of a way to connect members of Greater Victoria’s unhoused population with people who wanted to help.
Co-founder Martin overcame over 10 years of homelessness, alongside other challenges. Alongside her work with Beacon of Hope, she is also the creator of a successful anti-stigma workshop called Face 2 Face with Stigma, which presented 70 workshops and conferences over its three-year span.
The Beacon of Hope initiative will be launched at a town hall event on Saturday, April 12, at the Salvation Army’s Connection Point, located at 103-737 Goldstream Ave., from 3 to 5 p.m.
The project will begin in Langford, with an aim to expand across Greater Victoria.
“This initiative may lead to broader discussions about the needs and experiences of people who have faced challenges in the past, and how these insights can be beneficial for those currently in need,” said Mayor Scott Goodmanson in a news release.
“Beacon of Hope is a project like no other. Lighting a Beacon of Hope allows a person experiencing homelessness to request help, and it invites those wishing to help (create) a pathway to engage and connect in a positive way.”
The April 12 event is open to all community members, stakeholders in the homeless-serving sector, local leadership from Langford and individuals from the unhoused community.
For more information about the Beacon of Hope initiative or the upcoming town hall, email: greatervictoriabeaconofhope@gmail.com.
