Fort St. John woman founds initiative to support homeless people

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — In a winter community without an official warming center, one resident is stepping in to fill the gap. 

Fort St. John resident Kristen Goold founded Warm Welcome on November 1st, through a $10,000 microgrant through Urban Systems. 

Warm Welcome is an initiative operated by Goold and volunteers intended to provide winter supplies to the homeless in Fort St. John. 

Having been in the community since 2022 after moving from Kelowna, Goold decided to start the initiative after hearing about the experiences of fellow residents while attending biweekly meetings for narcotic and opioid wellness. 

When speaking with Energeticcity.ca, she shared a story about a person in the group who lost a finger, and her own experiences of being homeless in her car in the winter when she first moved to Fort St. John. 

“There’s no judgement kind of thing, right? So to me, it’s about providing zero judgement to people,” Goold stated. 

“Every person that walks in front of me is a human being first.” 

She told Energeticcity.ca her intentions are to fill the gap that not having a community warming centre leaves for the homeless community. 

“My goal…is to be able to provide everything that a warming center would supply,” Goold said. 

“If we can’t open a warming center, run a warming space…to give agency to people who are trying.”

“I can’t work because of my back and so a really wonderful opportunity has come my way to be able to work for my community, and that feels good,” Goold said. 

Goold described her current setup as “low budget,” with a tarp canopy, a generator and a few tables housing food stuffs, warming gear, clothes and warm drinks. 

She also noted Fort St. John wasn’t the type of community that needs “fancy shmancy stuff,” but said she enjoys giving people who visit her the opportunity to choose from a variety of things. 

“I always start with maintaining respect, always respecting that it’s a human being, and we are all human beings no matter what, we all can have our fingers fall off,” Goold said. 

Goold stated she is happy to accept donations from residents, especially when they lead to those she helps having choices.

She also detailed her intentions to help people “take the warmth with them” when they leave her table, which she supports by providing reusable hand warmers,  as well as gloves.

Goold explained as the temperatures dip, she hopes to be out even more. Currently, she is out twice a week on Sundays and Thursdays in the WorkBC parking lot.

Limited by the grant on how much she can purchase, Goold said she was open to and seeking donations of time and items from residents. 

Gift cards to support her purchasing more supplies, hygiene products, electrolyte drinks and potassium tablets are just some of the items she stated were high priority, as well as volunteers.

Individuals looking to inquire about donating items or volunteering their time can contact Goold by calling 250-262-9577.