Y I Walk: Robin's Story

Meet Robin.
 

She is the Superintendent of the Hamilton Police Service Downtown Patrol Division overseeing the downtown core. 
 

That means each morning she meets with her team to talk about the last 24 hours. They discuss any ongoing issues and figure out how they’re going to address them—everything from calls for service, to community complaints and criminal investigations.
 

“As there are a lot of unhoused individuals in this particular Division, we work with our Social Navigator Program and the Encampment Engagement Team to discuss the ways in which we can assist each other.” 
 

According to the police’s website, the Downtown Patrol Division is the area from Sherman Ave to the escarpment, down Main Street W (or the Dundas border), and then over to Cootes Paradise along Burlington Bay. 
 

When Robin does have a chance to get out of the office, she likes to walk around the downtown core and interact with the community. 
 

“I get a lot of positive energy from everyone downtown and I love the connections I make with people from all walks of life.  It’s refreshing to see how many friendly, supportive people we have in our community.” 
 

“I’ve been policing here in the city for 25 years...but things have really changed in the downtown area. It's so apparent there is a housing crisis and how much it's impacting the people in the city.” 
 

During that time, Robin has met some of the men passing through the YMCA Men’s Residence. The Men’s Residence provides deeply affordable transitional housing for men at risk, many facing health and social challenges. 
 

“I'm so happy that we have something like the Men's Residence.” 
 

“I have a real appreciation for the situation. A lot of empathy and compassion for the people that are at risk in some way.” 
 

That’s why, when she was asked to participate in The Long Walk Home, a two day, 72km trek in support of the Men’s Residence, she was immediately on board.
 

“It just struck me as something that I would want to be a part of to be able to contribute in some way to helping alleviate the problems that people are facing in the city when it comes to housing and other resources.”
 

“I joined policing to give back to my community, and throughout my career I've found ways to do that through my job and in my own time.”
 

On July 18, Robin announced on LinkedIn that she would be walking The Long Walk Home.
 

Just four days later, a fire broke out on the third floor of the Men’s Residence.
 

“I was really sad to hear about the fire. There's never been a greater need for this residence because there's so many men that benefit from this, and now, all of a sudden, it's gone.”
 

While men have returned to their rooms on the second floor, and those who live on the fourth and fifth floor will get back into their spaces soon, the third floor was heavily damaged, and remains closed.
 

“It’s not just about me. It's about donating to an amazing organization and helping these men get back on their feet, helping the Y continue to provide this service.”
 

“It’s about helping to ensure that people in our community have somewhere that they can go and transition themselves out of a bad situation, into a better situation.”
 

#TheLongWalkHome #TheYSavesLives #IgnitePotential 
 

On September 13 and 14, Kelly Tobin and nine others are committed to walking 72 km in just 2 days, while aiming to raise awareness and $40,000 in support of the Men's Residence.