Sudbury

Opening of Sudbury's new permanent shelter delayed 3 weeks, CMHA says

The opening of a new permanent shelter in downtown Sudbury is delayed by three weeks. The Canadian Mental Health Association Sudbury-Manitoulin has been working to renovate 200 Larch Street into a new 30-bed permanent shelter. It had been slated to open Nov. 1.

Canadian Mental Health Association says temporary men's shelter to remain open until Nov. 25

The completion of 200 Larch Street is delayed by three weeks, and is now expected to open Nov. 25 in downtown Sudbury. (Jamie-Lee McKenzie/CBC)

The opening of a new permanent shelter, slated for downtown Sudbury, is delayed for three weeks.

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Sudbury-Manitoulin has been working to renovate 200 Larch Street into a new 30-bed permanent shelter.

It had been slated to open Nov. 1, but has now been delayed until Nov. 25, according to Marion Quigley, outgoing CEO for CMHA Sudbury-Manitoulin.

"We had a tour [Monday] and we've decided that because we have the temporary shelter we're going to give ourselves a few more weeks to ensure that the site is ready for people to sleep there."

Marion Quigley is the outgoing CEO of Canadian Mental Health Association Sudbury-Manitoulin. Patty MacDonald will replace Quigley as CEO when Quigley retires next year. (Angela Gemmill/CBC)

The temporary shelter will continue just one block away at 146 Larch Street, in the old Salvation Army building.

That temporary space is a 20-bed shelter for men and non-binary individuals only. The new permanent site will have 30 beds and will be a year-round shelter for all adults ages 18 and up.

Once the permanent location is ready it will eliminate the need for seasonal emergency housing.

"In the past couple of years CMHA and the city have operated a winter shelter for low barrier [needs], but as of November 25th it will be a twelve month shelter, and it will be for men and women," Quigley said.

Along with the shelter, the new building at 200 Larch Street will also house a nurse practitioner clinic, and the CMHA's harm reduction home for its managed alcohol program. Quigley says those will open early in the new year.

There will also be community partners available at the permanent site to help clients connect with the support they needs on an individual basis.

'Not just a warm place to sleep'

Quigley describes a scenario where an individual wakes up after a night at the shelter, has a warm meal and then may feel ready to speak with support services on hand.

"It's about building relationships and building that trust so people will start to talk to us about what it is they need and how we can connect them."

"It's not just about a warm place to sleep, it's about how they can get supports and feel better about themselves," she said.

Quigley says when it comes to homelessness in our community we can't just look to one organization or one government such as the city.

"I think as a community we all need to help out and the city does provide a good amount of funds toward housing and homelessness, and as organizations we also need to look at how we can support them," she said.

"We are on the right track as a community."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Angela Gemmill

Journalist

Angela Gemmill is a CBC journalist who covers news in Sudbury and northern Ontario. Connect with her on Twitter @AngelaGemmill. Send story ideas to [email protected]