CLIENT OUTREACH SERVICES
The Grind Pembroke recognizes that, due to life circumstances, many of its patrons and clients will always need support – be it food, hygiene products etc.
While limited resources will not allow us to support such individuals for extended periods of time, we try to do our best to identify how their short-term basic needs can be met – either directly from the community donations with which we are entrusted, or by referral to other community resources.
Because of our limitations, we started to re-focus our efforts prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the move from the downtown core. The goal of this re-focusing was to provide more of a “hands up” to help individuals in need become more resilient and self-supporting.
Many new services have been introduced to support the needs of our clients:
Tuesdays:
PRH Community Mental Health – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Mesa (Community Paramedics) – 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Women’s Sexual Assault Centre – 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Wednesdays:
PRH Community Mental Health – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Mesa (Community Paramedics) – 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Thursdays:
PRH Community Mental Health – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Mesa (Community Paramedics) – 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Ontario Works – Homeless Prevention Program 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Fridays:
PRH Community Mental Health – 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Mesa (Community Paramedics) – 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Victim Services of Renfrew County 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
The Mesa Program is a new approach to coordinated and integrated multi-sector services in the County of Renfrew to create and support effective and innovative solutions to mental health, addictions, emergency services and housing issues. The Grind Pembroke is a proud partner of this exciting new program
Community Impact – 2023
The following assistance was provided:
Local taxi transportation to appointments – 51
Hygiene packages – 501
Naloxone Kits – 181
Shower – 96
Wellness checks in the community – 242 (homeless persons)
Out of the Cold – 2023-24
In partnership with the County of Renfrew, Pembroke and Area Community Task Force and neighbouring municipalities, The Grind Pembroke coordinated and managed an off site warming centre in Pembroke to ensure the health and safety of our homeless individuals during the cold winter months (December to April). This past winter the warming centre was located on Victoria Street at the Pembroke Farmer’s Market, utilizing a rented ATCO trailer and mobile washrooms equipped with lazy-boy chairs for comfort.
Community Impact – 2023-24
- warm nights provided – 1309
- breakfasts provided – 979
- dinners provided – 1309
- clean linens provided (Pembroke Regional Hospital) – 1400+
- youngest client – 16 years
- oldest client – 86 years
- busiest night – 19 clients
- longest stay by one person – 30 of 31 days in March
- average stay overall – 8 nights
- total individuals using the warming Centre – 101
- total male clients – 70
- total female clients – 31 (12 from out of the County, 10 being transient and only staying 1 or 2 nights)