Difficult Times

As you may have heard, a week ago today, Siloam Mission laid off 25% of its staff. It was a difficult week, to say the least.

We haven’t been doing well financially and as extreme a measure as this seems, our leadership feels it really is the only way to handle the situation at the present time. As difficult as it is, we have taken a course that will hopefully prevent us from having to cut back on any of our services. The most important thing at this point is to make sure the people we serve, the people who feel a sense of belonging here with us, do not get left out in the cold so to speak – or quite literally I suppose.

People come to Siloam Mission because we offer dignity and respect, and provide a relief from life on the streets – even if for just a moment. So although the loss of some of our staff members has been and will continue to be difficult, both for those who go and those who stay, we must continue the work God has trusted us with. And in turn, continue to trust in Him.

We trust what the book of Romans tells us, that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord. So we will trust that what Satan intends for evil, God can use for good. We will keep our eyes focused on what we are here for.

Those who will be moving on have taken the news quite well. There is emotion of course, but many have asked when they will be able to return to volunteer. That’s because we have a team of people at Siloam who truly care about what they’re doing. It’s not just a job to us – it’s life, it’s love, and it’s God’s heart.

As a connecting point between the compassionate and Winnipeg’s less fortunate, we have always relied on volunteer support. Now, even more than ever, we need the support of our community; through material goods, funds, and particularly time. We will continue to offer programs and services at no charge for those who are experiencing poverty and homelessness in our city, and we need your help.

Sarah Enns
Community Education Coordinator