Community Conversations, September 18, 2023 – Community Conversations, a local collective, is
excited to announce the upcoming event, “Homelessness & Hope,” scheduled for October 10th from 5 – 7
p.m. at the CASO Station, St. Thomas. This event, coinciding with World Homeless Day, aims to foster
open and respectful dialogue while shedding light on the positive impact of community responses to
homelessness.
The event will feature members of St. Thomas Addicts Sharing Hope (STASH) sharing their personal
stories and participating in a Q&A session. Attendees will also have the opportunity to interact with
representatives from various service providers and peer supports, including The INN, Indwell, the
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Street Outreach Team, The Nameless, and many more.
Dana Vanzanten, Manager of Programming and Community Development at St. Thomas Public Library is
enthusiastic about being part of the planning for this unique event. "We're creating a space where people
can hear and learn from other community members who have experienced homelessness or drug use,"
she said. "Our goal is to raise awareness and understanding of the positive impact of our community's
responses to homelessness."
Community Conversations, the planning group behind this event, aims to create spaces for open dialogue
on social justice topics. The group is made up of members from St. Thomas Public Library, Elgin County
Library, St. Thomas Elgin Local Immigration Partnership, St. Thomas Elgin Social Services, and
community volunteers. This event is a testament to their commitment to bringing the community together
for meaningful discussions.
The "Homelessness & Hope" event is free and open to the public, with complimentary food provided,
thanks to the generous support of the Elgin St. Thomas Coalition to End Poverty.
For interviews or further information, please contact:
Dana Vanzanten, Manager of Programming and Community Development
[email protected]
519-631-6050, ext. 8012
Join us on October 10th at CASO Station, 750 Talbot Street as we come together to learn, share, and
build hope within our community.