Downeyville Street Nurse Nominated Scotiabank Game Changer- Vote NOW!

Local Woman Worthy Scotiabank Game Changer -Vote Today!

Anne Marie Batten,writer of the 'Street News' column in Omemee Pigeon eFlyer, grew up in Downeyville,and brings her hometown values and upbringing to help the disadvantaged on the streets of Toronto. Anne Marie has been nominated as a Scotiabank Game Changer, for the work she does.

'If I were ever to win, I would get $100,000.00 for the charity of my choice.'shared Anne Marie,adding,' In this case, the money would go to Street Health to support the homeless and vulnerable persons in Toronto. Thanks for your help.'

You can vote for Anne Marie with each of your email addresses at www.ScotiabankGameChanger/nomination315
Here is the nomination information for Anne Marie. Please share it with all your friends using the sharing buttons below!

Leadership

Anne Marie Batten goes to the street to help the homeless. She works as a crisis nurse with Street Health in Toronto where she helps to take care of those living on the edge of society. For Anne Marie this is a calling, not a career. When the day ends she still is out there comforting those who are in need. She also has been part of Project Water and Project Winter Survival, bringing additional aid to those who face the elements. When a homeless man died this spring, unknown and alone in a crawl space Anne Marie was behind the scenes working to help find his identity and bring forth a bit of dignity to his death. In the end the man was identified as Bill Buss. Anne Marie made sure that Bill's name was not forgotten. As she talked with others in the street communities of Toronto she found that their greatest fear was to die as Bill did alone and unknown. She has been able to give their fear a voice using the media. Anne Marie has also worked with the media on another case where a homeless man was urinated on and featured on a viral video. She has raised awareness of how others on the street face daily assaults. Anne Marie mends the hearts and bodies of the homeless with a smile and compassion.

Challenge

When it comes to living on the street dignity is hard to find. Anne Marie Batten has used her job as a crisis nurse to give those who are invisible to the rest of society the love and compassion that they deserve. Her voice has been given to those who are often silenced by others raising awareness to the crisis on Toronto's streets. The challenge in Toronto is a lack of funding for those who are homeless. As program funds are cut right and left more and more are finding themselves on the streets or in homeless shelters. As the population of homeless has grown the beds in these shelters have reduced. Not only have the beds reduced but the number of trained crisis workers are decreasing. Toronto does not have a solid plan to deal with the increasing number of mentally ill that live on the streets, a majority of the clients that Anne Marie works with each day. Anne Marie has taken their needs to Social Media and journalists to raise awareness of the crisis and to help bring about empathy to those living on the street. She faces a small budget, great need and a city that often doesn't seem to care. She does this all with a smile or tears depending on the day. Her clients have become her family and she fights the dragons of society for them.

Impact

Anne Marie Batten has helped change the way Toronto looks at the homeless. She is often called the 'Go To Girl' when it comes to the media and homelessness in the city. Anne Marie has become the voice for those with no voice. Her words have given others a message of the needs of the street in a way that makes people listen.

Omemee Pigeon voted for Anne Marie, will you? Vote for Anne Marie at www.ScotiabankGameChanger/nomination315