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19 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, October 8, 2009 Homeless not without hope Now celebrating 28 years, you are all invited to join in on the celebration. T he Empty Bowls event funds hope for homeless people in our community. Home Suite Hope is a local charity that is all about putting a roof over your head and providing innovative local solutions to local homelessness. Last year, Empty Bowls helped fund the down payment and start-up operations on a six-unit apartment building that will house six families in distress. This year, Empty Bowls will help us finish the job of renovating and furnishing the last three units. With the addition of this modest walk-up apartment building, that is in addition to a townhouse and home already in use, Home Suite Hope now offers 23 beds to serve individuals and families in transition. Funding includes facilitated support to participants, addressing a range of causes underlying poverty and homelessness. "It is difficult to generate deep and durable improvements in housing if we address only a few of the surface issues. The practice of comprehensiveness is not easy with all the things that need to be done: housing, income, childcare, economic stability, health, (both mental and physical)," said Dwight Lacey, chair of the board of Home Suite Hope. "Courageous, grassroots, innovative groups like ours endeavour to develop a wide range of efforts." "There were 2,347 requests for emergency shelter in the region in 2007 -- half were able to be placed in an available emergency shelter. The majority of families placed in emergency shelter Taking Reservations for Thanksgiving LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER FUNDING HOPE: From left: Wendy Perkins, Home Suite Hope director, Greg Hunter, superintendent of a six-unit apartment complex owned by Home Suite Hope, Cari MacLean, Chair of Empty Bowls and Zach Veres, hard at work at the apartment complex that the upcoming Empty Bowls is fundraising to support as Home Suite Hope strives to provide local solutions to homelessness. "Empty Bowls offers an opportunity for the community to engage in bringing solutions to the local issue of homelessness." Cari MacLean, chair Empty Bowls units in Halton were forced to leave the region at the end of their emergency stay in order to secure more affordable housing", said Tanja Loeb-Houston, Home Suite Hope facilitator. "We work to house and to give hope to homeless men, women and children, with the goal of prevention of homelessness in the future, in order for people to achieve to their full potential." "Empty Bowls offers an opportunity for the community to engage in bringing solutions to the local issue of homelessness," said Cari MacLean, Empty Bowls chair. "People choose their own hand-made bowl to keep, and then sample from the amazing soups." Chef's menus for Souper Bowl III include: Tikki Tikka -- Mulligutawny Soup; Catered Fare -- Seafood Chowder; Stoney's -- Roasted Heirloom Tomato with Pesto Goat's Cheese Crisps and Beef Carpacio; Whole Foods -- Maple Roasted Autumn Squash; Corks -- Caldo Verde; Seasons -- Rutabaga, Sage and Apple, Sodexo -- Willis Farm's Apple Vichyssoise, Campbells -- Southern Style Barbecue Beef Dumpling in Organic Jalapeno Ginger Spiked Chicken Broth. As well as the array of soup, Cobs Lakeshore Bakery supplies fresh buns; Globe Coffee and LifeSource water participate to round out the menu. Presented by Gold Spoon Sponsors Longo's Fruit Market and RBC, Empty Bowls will be held at Appleby College on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 12:30-3 p.m. Tickets cost $50 minimum, although donations of more would be appreciated. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at the RBC branches at Lakeshore Road at Trafalgar Road and Fourth Line and Speers Road or through www.homesuitehope.org. -- Submitted by Empty Bowls All-inclusive membership & co-ordinated family scheduling Join now! We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities. Bring this ad to the get and YMCA of Oakville ut Pass. a FREE Adult Worko 2009 s Oct. 21, Offer expire adult workout Limited to ONE free per year. pass per person