After six months without a daytime home and centre, has found a permanent home on St. Paul Street in downtown Âé¶čAV.
Metro Community, a church consisting of people from all walks of life, known for its decade-long track record of advocacy and care for the most vulnerable and excluded in the valley, had been based out of a centre on the site of the proposed Westcorp hotel, at the corner of Water Street and Queensway. The previous centre was demolished to make way for the new development that was recently delayed another year.
The church has been operating its week-day outreach and care services as creatively as possible in the meantime.
âIt has been a difficult season for our team and especially for those we care for and serve among the vulnerable and street-connected communityâ said, Laurence East, lead pastor. âIts hard to describe what a critical resource this was for so many, and its loss had a profound impact on our streets.â
After the previous âMetro Centralâ centre was demolished, a proliferation of the homeless on the streets downtown during the summer became the subject of media attention. The City of Âé¶čAV was forced to hire four new bylaw officers, and public speculation followed.
âFor the last six years, we have been a home during the day for many; providing meaningful activity, job opportunities, life skills, community, spiritual care as well as meeting a host of practical needs.â East said. âWe look forward to building on that experience and being great neighbours, working in innovative ways to enhance and add to the richness our downtown.â
The new daytime centre, located at 1262 St Paul St., is strategically located outside the so-called 'red zone' and the civic district, in a transitional area that includes, commercial, residential and industrial activity.