Lorne’s Blanket opens its doors for public Q and A

By Laura Bohnert
On Tuesday, March 10, from 5 to 8 p.m., an open house will be held at Lorne’s Blanket in Whitecourt, Alberta. Whitecourt citizens are encouraged to drop by for a Q and A session, as well as for a chance to check out the facility.
Lorne’s Blanket, a men’s only transitional house, offers temporary housing for men who are in need: “We offer temporary housing for men who find themselves basically between a rock and a hard place,” explains Laurie Ellis, operations manager at Lorne’s Blanket. “They may have fallen for a time and need a helping hand up.”
Lorne’s Blanket started out at the level of a pilot program, and with the aid of a grant from the Town of Whitecourt, has developed into a transitional house.
“When Tennille’s Hope, our local soup kitchen opened in 2007, it was evident that Whitecourt indeed had a homeless community,” Ellis explained when asked about the inspiration behind the project. “Lorne’s Blanket originated as a pilot project downtown, taking men in out of the cold during the cold winter months, and over the years it has evolved into a five-bedroom home for men 18+ years.”
Lorne’s Blanket is “very different from a shelter or mat program or rehabilitation centre,” says Ellis. “It is focused on providing a long-term solution rather than a band-aid solution,” Ellis states.
The transitional house enables men to transition from a state of homelessness. “Some of these men,” Ellis explains, “are long-standing members of the community who are born and raised here.” With the community’s help, these men are given the opportunity to transition back into being productive members of society.
“Lorne’s Blanket assists men in a variety of ways,” explains Ellis. “After quite a thorough assessment, it is better determined just where our guests’ weaker areas in life may be — where they need some greater attention. For instance, employment, mental, or physical health services, life coaching or, perhaps, grief counselling, etc.”
“Every man who comes to Lorne’s blanket has different needs,” Ellis stresses, “and we try our best to help guide and walk alongside him until he is able to move out and move on.”
Tuesday’s open house is intended to provide Whitecourt community members with a chance to see its efforts in action. “Lorne’s blanket is a community ministry,” Ellis explains, “so it is very important for our community members to see for themselves just where their dollars are going.”
Anyone who is interested in learning more about Lorne’s Blanket is able to attend the open house for staff-guided tours and an opportunity to ask any questions he or she might have.
Lorne’s Blanket is attached to the back addition of the Family Worship Centre. Anyone seeking more information can email lornesblanketwhitecourt@gmail.com, call or text 780-268-0834, call 780-778-2572, or drop in to the Family Worship Centre Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.