Marc Boychuk

Background

About Marc Boychuk

I am a homeless advocate for Peace River investigating and working to end homelessness in our community. I raised awareness and understanding by sleeping outside for two nights in Jan 2017. I slept in the post office with other homeless people, talked with almost every business on Main Street, was well educated by those who have issues with and help out our homeless. During this time I also had discussions with ADDAC and the RCMP to learn and see their view on the homeless situation. In Sept 2018 Peace River participated on a homelessness estimation count. One of the largest coordinated counts with 20 rural communities involved. During the count a few things really stuck out. One is the high number of people that are homeless due to a mental health issue. Over 50% of the men. The second was that Peace River ranked as one of the highest of the rural communities with people sleeping outside. In my region the RCMP, nurses, doctors and emt’s and have heard their concerns. They are being overwhelmed with having to deal with the lack of resources. I have attended the first ever National Rural Homeless symposium, the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness and had the privilege to present at First Nations housing conference three times. I worked for the Métis Housing Corp. as a tenant relation officer. I help people get into homes and try to keep them housed in this role. I have been fortunate to help several families move into a new homes. I sit on several boards. Alberta Health Services Advisory, Stepping Up(Prevention of Violence Towards Woman), RCMP Community Advisory, Aboriginal Inter-agency, Poverty Reduction, and the Overnight Shelter, RDN, Restorative Justice, and a few more revolving around mental health. I work closely with the Woman’s Shelter and their outreach workers, I speak with prisoners each on getting help with their addictions at our correctional centre, I assist case workers with WJS(working with children and parents of children in care) Drs,nurses, EMTs, Victims Services and the Sagitawa Friendship Centre. I find the work I am doing now is sometimes heartbreaking, but mostly highly rewarding.