Latest news with #shelter
CTV News
2 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Homelessness Hub in Leamington expanding to offer overnight services
The Essex County Homeless Hub in Leamington, Ont. is seen in this undated image. (Source: County of Essex) The County of Essex is expanding overnight services at the Essex County Homelessness Hub (ECH2). The facility is located at 215 Talbot Street East in Leamington. Operated by Family Services Windsor-Essex (FSWE), the ECH2 will offer a safe place for people to attend every night from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., seven days a week, starting July 21, 2025, and running through to March 2026. 'The overnight program is an essential resource for rural residents experiencing homelessness, offering not only immediate shelter but also a compassionate connection to support. At FSWE, we're committed to supporting individuals as they navigate services and build pathways toward stable housing and improved overall well-being,' said Bryan Rock, community programs manager at FSWE. This initiative builds on the previous warming centre model, which offered a similar service starting in December of 2024 and ending in March of 2025. The overnight program will be operational seven days week until at least March of 2026, providing greater safety, stability, and access to supports for County residents experiencing homelessness. 'Homelessness is no longer just a big city problem and the Essex County Homelessness Hub is an important pillar of the County's response to homelessness in the region,' said Warden Hilda MacDonald, who is also the Mayor of Leamington. 'This expansion reflects Essex County Council's ongoing commitment to services and community partnerships that prioritize the health and well-being of some of the County's most vulnerable residents. The need is great and growing and we are committed to meeting that needm,' she said. From December 2024 through the end of March, the ECH2 overnight service recorded 918 visits, with a peak of 37 unique individuals in a single week in February 2025. During the same period, daytime services at the ECH2 supported 245 unique individuals and logged 4,715 visits. 'The overnight program is an essential resource for rural residents experiencing homelessness, offering not only immediate shelter but also a compassionate connection to support. At FSWE, we're committed to supporting individuals as they navigate services and build pathways toward stable housing and improved overall well-being,' said Bryan Rock, Community Programs Manager at FSWE. The ECH2 will continue to operate daytime hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, offering a range of wraparound supports including housing navigation, replacing identification, assistance accessing income support programs, harm reduction resources, eviction prevention, and access to food, clothing, and hygiene items. For more information about the Essex County Homelessness Hub and available services, visit or call 519-326-8629 ext. 395.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Shelter dog called ‘cursed Victorian child' is on cusp of being adopted
When animal shelters present their dogs for adoption, they generally boost their best traits: sweet, gentle, playful, good with kids. Then came Igor. 'Ever wanted to adopt a sentient middle finger wrapped in a cloud of fur?' reads a Facebook post from Renegade Paws Rescue in Savannah, Georgia. 'Meet Igor. We have reason to believe he's a cursed Victorian child masquerading as a 10lb stuffed animal.' He wasn't born, the post claims — he simply appeared. 'This dog does not want to go to the dog park or to brunch. He wants your ex-boyfriend's head on a platter,' it reads. 'And that mean girl in high school who said you were ugly? He's putting her soul through a meat grinder.' The shelter tried to train him, the post says, but Igor made the trainer cry. 'Igor wants you,' the post continues. 'He'll plan evil schemes with a dog sibling or two. But he doesn't want too many friends and he might need an exorcism if you bring that nice golden retriever from down the street over for a playdate.' Simply put, 'Igor is not a good boy,' the post reads. 'Igor is an experience.' Yet, apparently, many potential adopters are eager to experience all that Igor has to offer. Shortly after the rescue shared Igor's adoption post on Facebook on July 7, it went viral with thousands of likes, comments and shares. Dozens of adoption requests poured in. 'I'm pretty sure I just found my soulmate,' one person commented on Facebook. 'I see no red flags here,' wrote another. 'Nobody expected it to get that big,' said Jennifer Taylor, founder and director of Renegade Paws Rescue. 'It just blew up.' The post was written by the rescue's team of social media volunteers, who often lead with humor in describing their adoptable dogs. 'We have to see a lot of sadness every single day,' Taylor said. 'Sometimes, we just need a laugh.' Plus, she said, the strategy has proved effective. 'We make posts like that all the time to make people laugh and draw attention to the dogs that need it,' Taylor said. Igor's fame quickly spread beyond social media, landing him a feature on Savannah's WSAV News 3 and an appearance on NBC's 'Today' show — which involved a trip to New York City. Igor was mostly behaved during his travels, Taylor said, aside from a minor mishap at the airport, when he growled at a Transportation Security Administration agent. He gave 'side-eye and all the sass,' Taylor said. Although the Facebook post may have taken some liberties, Taylor said that it accurately captures Igor's true essence. 'He is a grouchy old man,' Taylor said. 'He doesn't want anybody on his lawn. He wants to do what he wants to do, and he doesn't want you to tell him what to do.' Igor arrived at the rescue May 13 from a rural county in Georgia. He and five other dogs were removed from a 'hoarding situation,' Taylor said, noting that Igor is probably a Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix and is about 5 years old. 'They were all pretty scared when they came in,' Taylor said. But Igor had no fear. In fact, he was the one who scared people. 'If he doesn't know you, he doesn't want you to touch him,' Taylor said. 'He is a sassy boy.' A few days after Igor arrived at the rescue — which operates its own shelter — Kerry Farinha signed up to be his foster. Right away, Farinha saw his fiery streak and devilish nature. 'I knew from the beginning he had a lot of personality,' Farinha said. 'He gives major side-eye, major attitude and lots of growling, lots of barking.' 'He'll make it known if he's not happy,' Farinha said. While Igor warmed up to Farinha, 'he did not like my husband. He still does not like my husband,' she said. 'Any new stranger that comes into our life, he is not a big fan.' Farinha said the adoption post is 'pretty accurate.' Still, she described Igor as a complex character. While he isn't shy about throwing shade, he's also generous with affection — but only if he likes you. 'When he's with the right person, he's a little sweetheart,' Farinha said. 'He'll kiss me, he'll snuggle with me. He follows me everywhere.' Igor also has a silly side: He often buries himself under blankets and jumps out, seemingly trying to spook people. He enjoys rolling around in the grass on his back. 'He looks like a little gremlin,' said Farinha, who has two other dogs, Gary and Jenny. 'He is very funny.' Farinha contemplated adopting Igor but decided he wasn't the right long-term fit given his deep disdain for her husband. She believes Igor would be best suited to a single owner with one or two other dogs. Or, as the shelter put it, 'his adoption requirements include at least one human who finds small, emotionally stunted men 'intriguing.'' Thankfully, Farinha said, there is no shortage of people who want Igor, or at least want to meet him. Comments continue to pour in on the Facebook post: 'I've never wanted a handsome little man more.' 'I would sell my soul to Igor.' 'Brb, driving across the country to meet this legend.' When he finally is adopted, letting him go is 'going to break my heart,' Farinha said. Renegade Paws Rescue encourages fosters to help choose the adopters of the dogs they take in, as they usually come to know the pups well. Farinha has narrowed down the long list of applications to four and hopes that Igor will settle into his new home in the coming weeks. 'He deserves the best home,' Farinha said. 'I know the person who ends up with him will be in love with him as well.'
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
‘Gone within the blink of an eye': Shelter for human trafficking survivors in Durham Region destroyed by fire
A shelter for survivors of human trafficking in Courtice was destroyed by a fire on July 2. (SafeHope Home photo) A shelter for survivors of human trafficking in Durham Region was destroyed by a fire earlier this month, displacing four residents and leaving the long-term future of the facility up in the air. The fire broke out at around 5:20 p.m. on July 2 at SafeHope Home's long-term transitional residence for women in Courtice. Though the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, the non-profit organization's executive director Jasmine De Fina told CP24 that she believes it may have been sparked by a lightning strike. De Fina said that three residents along with a staff member were making dinner inside the bungalow when they heard a 'loud bang that sounded like thunder' and felt the ground shake. Moments later, they saw what appeared to be a haze through the window, which she said was initially thought to be heavy rain as a thundershower had just started. 'And then the staff quickly realized that it was actually smoke,' she said. De Fina said the residents and staff member safely got out of the house and immediately called 911, watching the place they called home go up in flames as they waited for firefighters to arrive. 'The whole place essentially just burned down before them. …(Firefighters) did arrive quickly, but (the house) was just gone within the blink of an eye,' she shared. SafeHope Home destroyed in July 2 fire A shelter for survivors of human trafficking in Courtice was destroyed by a fire on July 2. (SafeHope Home photo) While no one was hurt, all of the women's belongings as well as the contents of the house were destroyed. De Fina said neighbours told them that they saw lightning hit the roof of the house in the moments before the fire. She said that on average, six or seven women (and occasionally their children) live in at SafeHope Home's residence at any given time. They usually stay there for about two years as they work to rebuild their lives, she said. De Fina added that the location has housed about 10 residents each year since it opened seven years ago, but its future is now in doubt. 'This fire didn't just affect the women that are there today, it affected those why stayed there in the past. It has brought up a lot for them too to watch it burn down,' she said. SafeHope Home destroyed in July 2 fire A shelter for survivors of human trafficking in Courtice was destroyed by a fire on July 2. (SafeHope Home photo) Clarington Emergency and Fire Services Deputy Chief Randy Cowan told CP24 that there were torrential rains and lighting in the area at the time of the fire. He said that while crews are still working to determine the cause of the blaze, there is nothing to suggest anything suspicious. The homeowner's insurance company is now working to determine the cost of the damages and items lost, but that may take some time, he said. Residence opened in 2018 SafeHope Home opened its long-term transitional residence in February 2018 following a years-long search and fundraising effort. Purchased, outfitted, and operated entirely through donations, it is the only survivor-led safe house of its kind in Canada for women over the age of 26, De Fina said. 'There is nothing like SafeHope Home. … We will do anything to support these women,' said De Fina, who is also a survivor of domestic sex trafficking. Aside from providing housing and support for residents, SafeHope Home's women's home also served as a place where various programs and counselling for survivors of human trafficking living in the community were offered. SafeHope Home destroyed in July 2 fire A shelter for survivors of human trafficking in Courtice was destroyed by a fire on July 2. (SafeHope Home photo) Short-term housing has been found for the four displaced residents but De Fina said SafeHope Home simply does not have the capital on hand to buy a new residence to replace the one that burned down, leavings the facility's long-term future in doubt. She added that because the home housed highly vulnerable women and its address has now been revealed, it must now be relocated to another location in the region. 'The women are fleeing very dangerous, very violent situations and so this was a secured location. Almost nobody knew the actual address of the home,' she explained. 'We definitely can't go back to that home because it was all over the news. People have drone images. Obviously we needed to let people know the situation so that we can get help, (but) we can't go back there even if it is rebuilt.' While the home was insured, De Fina suspects that there will be a considerable cost associated with finding a new permanent location. 'We're trying our best, but ultimately we may not be able to continue to house these survivors… We're not sure if we're going to have to close our doors,' De Fina said. 'We just need the house to be funded and if (it) isn't funded I just don't know if we can continue these programs. I don't know that we'll be able to put another roof over their head.' Jasmine De Fina, SafeHope Home e.d. Jasmine De Fina, the executive director of SafeHope Home in Durham Region, chats with CP24 on July 16. A crowdfunding page has been launched to help with SafeHope Home's relocation effort. Donations can also be made to the oraganizarion directly. The Courtice home was SafeHope's only shelter, however the organization also provides a range of anti-human trafficking services in Durham Region and throughout the province, including outreach and a long-term recovery program, which is funded by the provincial government. Chris Clark, the spokesperson for Ontario's Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services, said in a written statement that the provincial government is offering its 'full operational support and help with connecting those impacted (by the fire) to appropriate resources in the community and will continue to monitor as the situation evolves.'
Japan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Japan Times
Lilimi settles into a new life
Lily was first featured in this column in October 2023, but continued to languish in a shelter with no prospects for a home for more than a year. Thankfully, help was on the way — in the form of Masato and Kumiko Fukuhara. Residents of Tokyo, the Fukuharas had previously put their hands up to care for an ARK cat that didn't have long in this world. They adopted him and spent the last month of his life together, with the ailing cat loved and at peace. The couple didn't hesitate when they were told about Lily, whose eyes had already started to deteriorate. They brought her home in January and Lily, now known as Lilimi, settled in immediately. Upon arrival, Lilimi claimed her spot smack in the middle of the couple's futon. 'We realized we would soon be relegated to the far corners!' says Kumiko. Lilimi was very content. She would start purring as soon as the couple came near. 'She let us know when she wanted to be held or stroked, which was often, and we couldn't have been more delighted.' The Fukuharas, residents of Tokyo, have experience in caring for ailing and elderly cats, and make sure to offer a comfortable environment as well as plenty of attention and food. | Masato and Kumiko Fukuhara The Fukuharas are not just a cat-loving couple but also well-versed in caring for elderly and ailing felines. 'We realized that our previous cats had equipped us to look after cats in their twilight years,' says Kumiko. 'We feel strongly that we can provide a safe, warm environment, loads of love and affection and delicious food.' Most of all, the two of them make sure Lilimi knows that they'll always be there for her. If you are interested in adopting, email ARK at Tokyoark@ or call 050-1557-2763 (English or Japanese) Monday to Saturday (bilingual) for more information. Animal Refuge Kansai (with offices in Kansai and Tokyo) is an NPO founded by U.K. native Elizabeth Oliver. It is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned animals. All animals are vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Prospective owners are required to undergo a screening process. Web:
Arab News
4 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Unrecognized Bedouin villages in Israel build own bomb shelters
BEERSHEBA, Israel: When the sirens wail in the southern Israeli desert to herald an incoming missile, Ahmad Abu Ganima's family scrambles outside. Down some dirt-hewn steps, one by one, they squeeze through the window of a minibus buried under 10 feet of dirt. Abu Ganima, a mechanic, got the cast-off bus from his employer after it was stripped for parts. He buried it in his yard to create an ad-hoc bomb shelter for his family. Abu Ganima is part of Israel's 300,000-strong Bedouin community, a previously nomadic tribe that lives scattered across the arid Negev Desert. More than two thirds of the Bedouin have no access to shelters, says Huda Abu Obaid, executive director of Negev Coexistence Forum, which lobbies for Bedouin issues in southern Israel. As the threat of missiles became more dire during the 12-day war with Iran last month, many Bedouin families resorted to building DIY shelters out of available material: buried steel containers, buried trucks, repurposed construction debris. 'When there's a missile, you can see it coming from Gaza, Iran or Yemen,' says Amira Abu Queider, 55, a lawyer for the Shariah, or Islamic court system, pointing to the wide-open sky over Al-Zarnug, a village of squat, haphazardly built cement structures. 'We're not guilty, but we're the ones getting hurt.' Al-Zarnug is not recognized by the Israeli government and does not receive services such as trash collection, electricity or water. Nearly all power comes from solar panels on rooftops, and the community cannot receive construction permits. Residents receive frequent demolition orders. Around 90,000 Bedouins live in 35 unrecognized villages in southern Israel. Even those Bedouin who live in areas 'recognized' by Israel have scant access to shelter. Rahat, the largest Bedouin city in southern Israel, has eight public shelters for 79,000 residents, while nearby Ofakim, a Jewish town, has 150 public shelters for 41,000 residents, Abu Obaid says. Sometimes, more than 50 people try to squeeze into the 3 square meters of a mobile bomb shelter or buried truck. Others crowded into cement culverts beneath train tracks, meant to channel storm runoff, hanging sheets to try to provide privacy. Shelters are so far away that sometimes families were forced to leave behind the elderly and people with mobility issues, residents say. Engineering standards for bomb shelters and protected rooms are exhaustive and specific, laying out thickness of walls and types of shockwave-proof windows that must be used. The Bedouins making their own shelters know that they don't offer much or any protection from a direct hit, but many people say it makes them feel good to go somewhere. Inside the minibus, Abu Ganeima says, the sound of the sirens are deadened, which is comforting to his children. 'Our bomb shelters are not safe,' says Najah Abo Smhan, a medical translator and single mother from Al-Zarnug. Her 9-year-old daughter, terrified, insisted they run to a neighbor's, where they had repurposed a massive, cast-off truck scale as the roof of a dug-out underground shelter, even though they knew it wouldn't be enough to protect them from a direct hit. 'We're just doing a lot of praying.' When sirens blared to warn of incoming missiles, 'scene filled with fear and panic' unfolded, says Miada Abukweder, 36, a leader from the village of Al-Zarnug, which is not recognized by Israel. 'Children screamed, and mothers feared more for their children than for themselves. They were thinking about their children while they were screaming, feeling stomach pain, scared, and crying out, 'We are going to die, where will we go?'' says Abukweder, part of a large clan of families in the area. The feeling of not having anywhere to go or hide, many say, is almost as terrifying as the missiles themselves. Immediately after the Oct. 7 attack, Israeli security services placed around 300 mobile bomb shelters in Bedouin areas, Abu Obaid says. Civil service organizations also donated a handful of mobile shelters. But these mobile bomb shelters are not built to withstand Iran's ballistic missiles, and are grossly inadequate to meet widespread need. Abu Obaid estimates thousands of mobile shelters are needed across the far-flung Bedouin communities
