Sharon and Dale
By Cyndi Ingle
If you stroll around the downtown core of any major city you are likely to see many homeless people, and Hamilton is no different. How we as a city and as individuals treat homeless people says more about us than it does about them.
Sharon Hayes Williamson, who started the not-for-profit organization Helping Hamilton Homeless (HHH) five and half years ago can’t simply walk by people in distress. The organization presently boasts around 200 volunteers who help 500+ people yearly. HHH is a community team effort, and everyone can join and help. It’s donation driven, and receives no City of Hamilton or government funding.
As Sharon explains, “Everyone matters, they are just like us, but are down on their luck. Understanding is key, and it’s important to have a little compassion.”
The genesis of Helping Hamilton Homeless
The catalyst for HHH occurred when Sharon noticed groups of homeless people congregating near Urban Core. After watching a TV show where a couple from Alberta who won a trip to Hawaii gifted it to people in their community, Sharon ran a contest to find a deserving person in Ontario and offered a free trip to Niagara Falls for four days.
One could say the beginnings of HHH came to Sharon in a dream. After her first contest, she had a dream about sending a homeless person to Niagara Falls for an all-expenses paid holiday as a break from street life. However after speaking with a group of homeless men she found out that their priorities were more basic: they needed new socks, not a trip to Niagara Falls.
After buying packages of socks for the group and throwing a street birthday party for a homeless man named Ricky, Sharon had an epiphany.
“Homeless people take what they need and share. That’s the moment I realized that they are not selfish and it really touched me. Ricky was crying because he hadn’t received a birthday card in 30 years. He said something that stuck with me: ‘You’re not living, unless you’re giving.’”
A few years after this original encounter Sharon realized that there is power in numbers and decided to start a group to help Hamilton’s homeless people.
COVID-19 and Hamilton’s homeless
To date the official word is that only one homeless person in Hamilton has contracted Covid-19. As Sharon states, “It’s a terrible time for the homeless, and there are not as many places for them to go to get food. There are not as many options now or resources. Restaurants that used to give out food aren’t giving away any more. Lots of people need food.”
During these times HHH is still helping street people by handing out food and other items. Sharon is aided by her right hand man, Dale who is handing out items to homeless people in the downtown core in a safe manner.
How does HHH help?
- Their Annual Homeless Makeover Day is scheduled for June14/20. However, due to the pandemic the event may be pushed to September. At the event people access free clothing, shoes, food, haircuts, shaves and manicures, and listen to live music.
- HHH’s bi-weekly Kindness Walk takes place the every second Sunday. Volunteers meet by Jackson Square with wagons packed with clothing, toiletries, food, etc. The route takes them along Bay Street and passed the Salvation Army. Unfortunately HHH is unable to do the walks now due to Covid-19.
- In December HHH participates in the Make a Wish project, where people ask for items and are matched with donors. A Christmas project which helps 100 families and seniors also takes place.
- HHH does outreach, and receives many calls and emails from people who need groceries, and have emergency and special requests. During the pandemic Sharon does a couple of grocery deliveries a day to families in need.
- Advocacy for the homeless is part of their mandate and Sharon is in touch with Hamilton City Councillor for Ward 3 Nrinder Nann. As soon as the pandemic started HHH advocated for portable toilets and hand wash stations, which are now available for homeless people to use at Park and York Blvd.
As Sharon explains, “Hamilton is a great community. Through the group people can get to know the homeless personally. The group gives people the opportunity to help and they can jump in and help where they feel comfortable.”
Want to be involved with HHH?
If you’d like to be involved with HHH please contact Sharon by email at helpinghamiltonhomeless@gmail.com or via their facebook group.
Sharon would like to give a special shout out to Brandon Taylor and his family for doing the Dave Taylor Bulldogs fundraiser to help raise funds for HHH, and to all the volunteers and contributors giving back to the community.
I can’t push a cart but I would like to help feed the homeless.
Darlene Eaton