Roberts matched Settee s donations, and gave him 10 per cent off his purchases. Settee says it s because of the help from others he was able to do this. “Without the support of Thompsonites, this initiative wouldn t be possible. So with this I would like to say happy Thanksgiving to the clients at The Thompson Homeless Shelter, and also the staff at the CMHA.” Paullette Simkins, executive director for the Canadian Mental Health Association of Thompson, says Settee is like no other. “I think it s awesome. I wish we had more young individuals that had the same compassion and willingness to help. He s been a tremendous voice for the homeless clients.”
Thirty-three men, 12 women and one transgender person used the facility in November, according to a report from homeless shelter and Thompson Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) executive director Mitchelle Kelly. As overnight temperatures dipped to -30 and colder beginning Dec. 12, the homeless shelter began to fill up and outdoor ice rink warm-up buildings were opened to accommodate the overflow under the city’s cold weather policy. “Last night were at full capacity [at the shelter],” Kelly told the committee, adding that shelter staff communicate with emergency dispatchers when temperatures are cold and the shelter fills up so they know that if police or emergency services pick someone up to give them a ride, they can drop them off at the outdoor rink warm-up building instead of the shelter.