Love Lives Here still sharing home despite homeless camp, COVID concerns

A Christian mission organization is fighting to "bring the light" to lives despite safety concerns.

Heather Barefoot is finding that a variety of situations is making it difficult for people to feel safe visiting the Love Lives Here (LLH) trailer, including COVID-19 concerns, but says one of the largest concerns going into the summer is the impact a homeless encampment is having on her ministry.

"More than anything, our passion at this ministry is Christ and to bring them to that realization that God is the answer," she says. 

Barefoot, along with four other volunteers, has been working faithfully through the pandemic to provide food for visitors, but they say they have seen a 50 per cent drop in visitors since the pandemic.

Barefoot and her team preach and share that no matter the difficulty, God can help them through, but another challenge is currently affecting their ministry.

Two large encampments are bordering Manitoba Metis Federation's building near the Disraeli Bridge, including one encroaching on the space LLH's trailer occupies. While most of the time residents comply, what Barefoot worries about not having enough physical room to share the gospel. Barefoot, whose work requires outdoor space to minister, says that she has been asking residents to move their camps back.