Volunteers search for homeless veterans in Calgary’s East Village

Volunteers in 17 cities, including Calgary, are taking part in a coast to coast walk to raise awareness about homeless veterans and reaching out to those in need of help.

The second annual “Coast to Coast Tour of Duty” is hosted by Veterans Emergency Transition Services Canada (VETS).

Until recently, VETS members had been quietly visiting shelters in search of homeless veterans and alerting shelter staff that the group was available as a resource.

Organizer Debbie Lowther says now the tour is in its second year and covering more ground.

“Last year, we did 13 cities, this year we were able increase that to 17 cities, so everywhere from St. John’s, Newfoundland right to you in Vancouver.”

The latest estimate from the federal government puts the number of homeless vets at around 2,500, but Lowther says that number is conservative.

“It doesn’t take into consideration those living in their cars or living in the woods, which a lot of veterans do. A lot of veterans don’t access the shelter system.”

The Tour of Duty is meant to get a better sense of how many homeless vets there actually are and connecting them with critical services.

“The key for this event is to really keep the spotlight on the issue and let people know that it’s actually happening,” Lowther says.

Lowther says the aim is simple that those who protected our home, should be never be without one.

The Calgary walk began at 1 p.m. at Celebration Square in East Village.

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