A transitional housing project by Coverdale Centre for Women at risk of losing its funding has been saved.
The project secured $2 million in government funding last summer.
But due to the high cost of construction materials and inflation, a $400,000 shortfall was discovered with a hard deadline of March 18th to find the funds.
Executive director Mary Saulnier-Taylor said they have been able to secure the funding to cover the shortfall through a grant.
“I’m not able to divulge any information as of yet. I am waiting for their approval to put the word out of where we actually secured the funding outside of the GoFundMe page, Canada Helps, just general donations we’ve received,” Saulnier-Taylor said.
More than $135,000 was raised by the community through various fundraising methods including a GoFundMe page, and Saulnier-Taylor said it will all be used for the project.
The project will be built on empty lots at 721-723 Brunswick Drive on the corner of Middle Street in Waterloo Village.
The complex is meant for women experiencing homelessness. The 12 units come furnished with all the supplies they need to move in and they will not have a timeframe for when they have to leave.
“We’re gonna make sure we work with all the other agencies in each woman’s story so they receive all the supports they need based on their individual needs. They can stay as long as they follow through with the program, maintaining regular rental expectations which means not disturbing the other women that will be in the housing project,” Saulnier-Taylor said.
Saulnier-Taylor said it will have a harm-reduction lens recognizing many of the women they work with suffer from substance abuse and mental health concerns.
“We just hoping it will be a good, solid foundation to get them sustained and get the supports they need so they can have a place they can call home,” Saulnier-Taylor said.
Construction was scheduled to begin April 1st and, while that seems unlikely, Saulnier-Taylor hopes to see it start as soon as possible.
