West End Site Break - call for assistance
We received the following letter from our friends at 1JustCity:
Dear Friends,
Recently we had a series of break-ins at our West End site. Our staff and program computers were stolen, along with our security cameras, sound system, and projector, to name a few items. However, the last break-in actually made it impossible for us to continue working and delivering program in the space. West End Commons has a lot of work to do before the place is safe and secure.
As you can imagine, this impacted our staff and our guests. The West End team were deployed to other sites, and in some cases, other work. They held warming and/or Sacred fires, Sharing Circles and lunch outside the drop-in for all who wanted to come. Next week the West End Program will make a slow transition over to West Broadway where we will serve lunch at least a couple of times a week (details are still developing). We want to make sure we are a presence in the West End, so fires and Sharing Circles, as well as Harm Reduction walks are expected to continue in the neighbourhood.
Many of you have asked what we need. We do have some real needs. We did not have Interruption of Business Insurance, so we have been paying our staff even though some of our programs (such as the weekend program) ended, and we could not run our housing program out of the West End. Replacing our technology and buying a commercial freezer for West Broadway to handle the extra food, are needed.
A recent meeting at West End Commons verified that we will not be returning on April 3rd, or anytime soon. We will need to end our weekend drop-in at West End, and guests will need to go to West Broadway for Housing Supports.
Combining our programs, even if only for a short time, will require we add another meal most days at West Broadway to meet the needs of our guests.
Please note: Please send all mail to our Administrative Office at 107 Pulford Street, R3L1X8. If you want to help please make your gift out to 1JustCity and indicate West End Refurbish in the comment section or memo of the cheque.
