Much has changed about homelessness in Vancouver since Hector Hinojosa started the monthly Stone Soup Community Meals program in the downtown area more than a year ago.
The good news? Homeless advocates say more attention is being paid to the problem — by city officials, church leaders and grass-roots volunteers. At the same time, Hinojosa says, more needs to be done. At downtown’s sculpture park on Sunday afternoon, the need was apparent as dozens lined up for warm clothing, hot food and friendly conversation during another Stone Soup meal.
Launched in June 2014, the event, always held the last Sunday of each month, encourages volunteers to sit down and break bread with those in need. The event has been described by volunteers as one of the few opportunities the homeless have for a pleasant, substantial interaction with the broader community.
“The idea is to bring community together,” Hinojosa said. “I think we’re having moderate success with that.”
He and other volunteers dished up roasted turkey and ham, sautéed vegetables and twice-baked mashed potatoes. Some people grabbed a plate and sat at canopy-covered tables as light snow fell around them; others browsed piles of winter clothing, blankets, hand warmers and plastic bags filled with toiletries.
“Camouflage, anybody?” one volunteer said, holding out a green camo coat.
“You want some help opening that?” another volunteer asked prior to assisting a man with opening a black garbage bag to store his clothing.
One woman was on the hunt for size 9 work boots for her husband after his long-serving pair finally gave out. She asked another volunteer if she had heard of any job openings; her hours recently were cut at work from 25 to nine.
The event had to move recently to Broadway and Ninth Street after construction began on a bus rapid transit stop at Turtle Place park. Even after the construction, Hinojosa said, he wasn’t sure whether the event will return there. He is looking for another space, perhaps one that’s indoors.
“That would be nice, certainly during the wintertime,” he said.
Within 20 minutes of Stone Soup’s opening, half of the clothes were gone, said Eileen Cowen of the Blanket Brigade, which organized the clothing drive. She said the drive collected clothes from about eight places around the area, and they pulled in quite a haul, including nice, thick winter jackets. “It was awesome.”
Still, she said, “It seems like a never-ending demand.”
Chris Breitenbauch was there to find some new clothes. A couple of months ago, he lived in a tent community outside of Share House in west Vancouver that’s since been disbanded by the authorities. He has sought help for addiction problems and now lives at a local Oxford House.
For Breitenbauch, Stone Soup “means clothes, food, warmth and friends, and an opportunity to see Vancouver actually care.”
He said his motivation for turning his life around is his 3-year-old son; Breitenbauch took out his phone to proudly show pictures of the boy and one of the child’s finger-painting projects. His son is in the care of Child Protective Services and could be placed with another family, but Breitenbauch said he hopes to eventually regain custody.
“Don’t give up,” he said. “Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I hope everybody’s straight and sober this year.”
