Today Ontario Northland donated a used motor coach to Humanity First Shelter Bus. This innovative initiative provides a temporary, safe and comfortable place for those who are homeless to sleep overnight in various communities.
Humanity First already operates one repurposed motor coach which acts as a climate-controlled mobile shelter with up to 20 beds, a kitchenette, lounge space and secure storage. The shelter bus is meant to operate overnight with a driver and volunteers to provide temporary relief to homeless individuals.
“We are proud to donate a motor coach to such a worthy cause,” says Corina Moore, President and CEO, Ontario Northland. “Even though the motor coach has reached the end of its life span for Ontario Northland’s passenger trips, there is still lots of life left in it. It made sense to pass it on to Humanity First Shelter Bus who will in turn retrofit the motor coach and provide a safe and warm place for those in need.”
“The first step to having a Shelter Bus is the equipment,” says Naeem Farooqi, Project Director and Founder of Humanity First Shelter Bus. “Ontario Northland’s donation of a motor coach has certainly helped cover the initial costs of getting another Shelter Bus across cities in Canada.” It will cost approximately $100,000 to convert the motor coach. “The goal is to retrofit the motor coach as quickly as possible and return it to municipalities in need of temporary mobile homeless shelters,” says Farooqi. “Any municipality has the infrastructure and ability to support a project like this. The bus appears at night and disappears in the morning.”
Shelter Bus currently operates in Toronto. To donate please visit www.shelterbus.ca and to request shelter bus support in your community contact Humanity First Canada.