The downtown building will offer a safe space for youth to hang out while also housing mental health and addiction services, employment services, housing and income support, and anti-human trafficking support, among others
Saul State Marie’s long-awaited youth wellness center project is officially underway and, if all goes according to plan, will open later this year.
An announcement with community partners was held on Friday morning outside the former Independent Order of Odd Fellows hall on Dennis Street, opposite the bus terminal.
When it opens as the Youth Wellness Hub, it will offer a safe place for young people aged 12 to 25 and will have a range of services including mental health and addiction support, employment services, housing and income support and support for combating human trafficking, among other things.
Arwen Cooke and Abiguale Lecroix are members of New Northern Mentality, a youth-led mental health advocacy group supported by Algoma Family Services. They spoke at Friday’s announcement to offer a young perspective on the need for such a community center.
“A lot of people my age either live with their grandparents or don’t have a stable household, so to have this place to come and eat and just hang out with your friends is a great idea,” Lecroix said.
Cook said there is a lack of positive things for youth to do at Sault Ste. Marie and they hope the center will help solve that problem.
“There’s just not much to do or the things to do are always go to the mall or hang out at your house, but none of that is ever in a youth safe place where you can be sure you’re in safety, especially with our current mental health issues,” Cook said. “Now there will be a place where people can gather safely, not to mention the services that will be available here that youth won’t be able to access on their own. “
Bob Woolley is one of about a dozen active members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a service club that has existed in the city for 130 years and once boasted a membership in the hundreds. He said it was difficult to sell the building, but he was happy it would find new life in service to the community.
“It’s very bittersweet,” Woolley said. “It’s bittersweet because we’re very sad to see the building go, but we’re super happy it’s going to the youth in the community.”
The building is being purchased for $180,000, with the deal expected to close on Saturday. Current Odd Fellows members were present during Friday’s announcement to see the transition of the building from the service club to the new owner, Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation (SSMHC).
The lead agency for the Youth Wellness Hub project is Algoma Family Services and CEO Ali Juma said the partnership with SSMHC is ideal.
“Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation is the owner, we rent from them. This is their wheelhouse – property management and repairs,” Juma said.
The hall was built in 1951 and is in need of renovations and improvements before opening as a youth centre. Juma said there is currently a hole in the roof and an elevator will be added to make the building more accessible.
“We’re hoping to have a grand opening this year, but that may or may not happen just because of the extent of the renovation,” Juma said.
Mike Nadeau is Saul State County Executive. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB), which oversees SSMHC. He said a new roof and some electrical work were needed.
“For the most part, the bones are in really good shape,” Nadeau said of the building’s condition.
Nadeau said it’s possible the center could open by the end of the year, depending on what the partners who run it want for improvements to the building.
“Ali and community partners will be responsible for telling us what they require. Our job is to make sure we drive and get the best value for money,” Nadeau said.
These community partners include the Canadian Mental Health Association – Algoma, Children’s Aid Society of Algoma, John Howard Society, Algoma Public Health, Indian Friendship Centre, Northern Youth Services, THRIVE Child Development Centre, DSSAB, SSMHC and city of Sault Ste. Marie.
So far, $100,000 in funding has been committed by the city of Sault Ste. Marie, with an additional $100,000 from Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario. Algoma Family Services is offering $52,000 and $50,000 is dedicated to CMHA — Algoma.
Juma said the location opposite the bus terminal is key because every youth using it will be issued a monthly bus pass to ensure they can come and go or use it to access work or other services in the community.
A commercial kitchen that already exists in the basement of the building will also be put to good use for job skills training and food preparation.
“Having a commercial kitchen will allow us to prepare a lot of meals. There are so many children going hungry right now,” Juma said.
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