无家可归者在一辆改装过的公共汽车上寻求庇护

无家可归者在一辆改装过的公共汽车上寻求庇护

There's an innovative way for homeless people to find warmth in Toronto this winter. A repurposed coach bus is on the streets, offering shelter, food and a bed on cold nights for those who need it.

今年冬天，多伦多为无家可归者提供了一种新颖的取暖方式。一辆改装过的长途汽车出现在大街上，为那些需要帮助的人提供住所、食物和床铺。

MARY JO DILONARDO

The Shelter Bus is a project by Humanity First, an international humanitarian relief organization based in Ontario. The retrofitted bus has been turned into an emergency mobile shelter. It seats 44 and, when converted into beds, sleeps 20.

避难所巴士是总部设在安大略省的国际人道主义救援组织“人道第一”的一个项目。这辆改装过的公共汽车已经变成了一个紧急流动避难所。它有44个座位，如果换成床，可以睡20个人。

"As part of my work, I always retire buses and they're sold for scrap metal basically for around $2,000 and we buy them for half a million dollars brand new," Shelter Bus Founder Naeem Farooqi tells CBC Toronto . "So I thought, is there a better social use for these buses?"

“作为我工作的一部分，我总是让公交车退休，它们基本上以大约2000美元的价格卖掉废金属，而我们以50万美元的价格购买全新的公交车，”Shelter Bus的创始人Naeem Farooqi告诉加拿大广播公司多伦多分部。“所以我想，这些公交车有更好的社会用途吗?”

Farooqi floated the idea of using a bus to help with the problem of homelessness in Toronto.

Farooqi提出了利用公交车来解决多伦多无家可归问题的想法。

There are 35,000 Canadians who are homeless on any given night, according to Humanity First. About two homeless people die each week in Toronto.

据“人道第一”统计，在任何一个夜晚，都有3.5万加拿大人无家可归。在多伦多，每周大约有两名无家可归的人死亡。

A way to show compassion

一种表达同情的方式

Throughout most of the year, the bus will go out just on weekends. But now, with temperatures regularly staying frigid, the bus has been going out every night. It will continue to do so as the weather remains dangerous to the homeless. In fact, a second bus is in the works.

一年中大部分时间，公共汽车只在周末出去。但是现在，气温经常保持寒冷，公交车每天晚上都在外面。由于天气对无家可归者来说仍然很危险，它将继续这样做。事实上，第二辆巴士正在建设中。

There aren't enough shelters in the area to meet the need in winter, so the bus helps with excess demand.

该地区没有足够的避难所来满足冬天的需求，所以公交车帮助解决了过剩的需求。

Because it's mobile, the bus is able to go wherever the need is greatest. Local residents also like that the bus only comes out at night and therefore doesn't have a permanent spot in the community, Farooqi says.

因为它是移动的，公交车可以去任何最需要的地方。Farooqi说，当地居民也喜欢公交车只在晚上出来，因此在社区里没有固定的位置。

The bus operates with a volunteer driver and volunteer caretakers who offer snacks and key necessities like warm socks and toiletries.

巴士上有一名志愿司机和志愿看护者，他们提供零食和关键必需品，比如保暖袜子和洗漱用品。

In addition to providing a place for people to get out of the cold, the bus has a bathroom, tables and a kitchenette.

除了为人们提供一个避寒的地方，巴士上还有一间浴室、几张桌子和一个小厨房。

"While I consider myself a transit geek and could go on and on about the logistics of this project, I'd like to come back to the core of what we are trying to do: showing compassion to the oft-ignored members of our community," Farooqi writes on LinkedIn.

Farooqi在领英上写道:“虽然我认为自己是一个交通极客，可以一直谈论这个项目的后勤工作，但我还是想回到我们努力做的事情的核心:对我们社区中经常被忽视的成员表示同情。”

"Our team has considered it of the utmost importance to stay connected with people who are struggling from homelessness, and understanding their needs. Though our bus is not a long-term solution, we have been trying our best to raise awareness about the issues that the homeless face."

“我们的团队认为与那些在无家可归中挣扎的人们保持联系并了解他们的需求是最重要的。虽然我们的巴士不是长久之计，但我们一直在努力提高人们对无家可归者所面临问题的认识。”