Leona Doerksen
Chair
To provide low-barrier, safe, inclusive shelter for our neighbours experiencing homelessness.
An end to homelessness in Steinbach and surrounding communities.
Immediate overnight low barrier transitional housing for up to 18 months. The goal is to help every guest find safe sustainable housing as soon as possible. This includes using diversion strategies for anyone who comes from out of the region, or whose previous living arrangements may be reconciled. Also, we provide guests with referrals to community programs including: housing, wellness, employment, mental health spiritual care, and addictions recovery.
We believe that the safety of the guests, volunteers, neighbours, and staff of The INN is our greatest priority.
We acknowledge our diversity and uniqueness, and strive to treat each other with kindness, empathy, and dignity.
We believe all people deserve to be treated respectfully.
We believe all people deserve safe, decent accommodations with a basic level of privacy and personal space.
We believe we are all stronger when we work together.
We believe our guests deserve the highest standard of care. We strive to provide person-centered, trauma sensitive, solutions focused care for one and all.
We believe when you invest in The INN you are investing in people's lives, and this investment pays forward for generations to come.
We believe that homelessness does not equal hopelessness. We believe there is hope for every person to reach their potential. However, it takes an entire community of people working together offering: Help, Opportunities, Patience, and Encouragement.
Once a dream, now a beacon of hope in Steinbach, The INN – Initiative for Neighborly Nights – emerged from a collective desire to kindle a light of warmth and safety in our community's darkest nights. This story is not just about building a shelter; it's about nurturing a vision where every soul in distress finds a haven, a gesture of communal embrace.
Our narrative began with Leona Doerksen, who, moved by the silent echoes of need in our streets, saw beyond the immediate. She envisioned a place where the night's cold touch is met with warmth, where the weight of the world is lifted, if only for a moment. This vision, shared and nurtured by many hearts and hands, grew into The INN, a sanctuary where the doors are open to all seeking refuge.
Here, within the walls of The INN, guests are not just numbers; they are individuals with stories, seeking solace and a new chapter. Our approach is simple yet profound – to offer a space that respects dignity, fosters community, and acknowledges the intrinsic value of each person. It's a place where mats become beds of hope, where lockers safeguard more than belongings – they guard the dignity of those within.
The journey to bring The INN to life was paved with challenges, but also with profound community support. Every brick, every beam, resonates with the spirit of generosity and collaboration that built it. Our story is a tapestry woven from the countless acts of kindness and belief in a shared humanity.
Introducing the dedicated individuals behind The INN project.
Leona Doerksen
Chair
Kim Heidinger
Vice Chair
Matthew Frischbutter
Treasurer
Christine Gerbrandt
Board member
Darlene Siemens
Board member
Kathy Small
Board Member
Krystal Wylie
Secretary
Posted: 6:30 AM CST Thursday, December 12, 2024
Grade 8 students raise $500 for The INN after learning about homelessness.
Read ArticlePosted: 6:00 AM CST Thursday, December 12, 2024
Steinbach Online Building The INN: "Committed to building it right!"
Read ArticlePosted: 5:00 AM CST Sunday, December 08, 2024
"The INN" art challenge inspires kids to show “Everyone Needs a Home”
Read ArticlePosted: 5:00 AM CST Monday, November 18, 2024
The INN aims to end homelessness in Southeast Manitoba with a $100K campaign for a mortgage-free shelter, focusing on housing-first strategies and community.
Read ArticlePosted: 3:00 AM CDT Friday, October 11, 2024
The INN plans to tackle homelessness in Southeast Manitoba by offering transitional housing, support services, and community-focused solutions.
Read ArticlePosted: 5:00 AM CDT Monday, October 07, 2024
The INN has launched a fundraising campaign to build a 30-room transitional shelter in Steinbach, aiming to address homelessness with a housing-first model.
Read Article