THUNDER BAY – The Salvation Army will find out next week if their new men’s homeless shelter will get financial support from the city.
Thunder Bay city council on Monday night is expected to decide whether to pitch in $500,000 towards The Salvation Army’s $9 million Journey to Life Centre, the planned replacement of the organization’s North Cumberland Street building.
Last November, Maj. Lori Mitchell appeared before city council to make the request, describing the project as a “purpose-built” facility that would allow the organization to move beyond temporary solutions and address root causes.
The current facility operates a 35-bed emergency shelter, up to eight federal parole beds and nine designated mental health beds. Other community and family services programs such as a food bank and community kitchen, elementary school breakfast program, mobile feeding unit, children’s anger management program and emergency disaster services are also run out of the building.
The $500,000, which administration is recommending to be taken from the Renew Thunder Bay reserve fund, would match the amount put forward by The Salvation Army locally.
“This project aligns with the established criteria for Renew Thunder Bay,” city treasurer Linda Evans said on Thursday. “Particularly, it aligns with our strategic priorities of the city and is a project highly leveraged by other levels of government and will provide some economic benefit to the city in the form of direct and indirect jobs.”
The project has already secured nearly $7.4 million in funding, with $5.75 million through The Salvation Army’s national and regional headquarters with another $1.3 million through the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board. A private donor has pledged $350,000.
The Salvation Army has submitted funding applications to both the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and FedNor, seeking $400,000 from each level of government to cover constructions of training space and equipment. They also have a separate $150,000 application before the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Council will also be asked to consider waiving nearly $85,000 in building permit and landfill tipping fees, which is not being recommended by administration.
“At this time, with the financial pressures of the city it’s not a road we want to go down at this path,” Evans said. “It would be lost revenue for the city. It’s not a proposal that’s available to other organizations so we are not recommending it at this time.”
