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<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><h1 class="title___2YDFY" data-lpos="article|header" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1.788rem; margin: 0px 0px 0.1rem; padding-bottom: var(--gutter-small); text-shadow: none; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; letter-spacing: -0.8px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); padding-top: 0.5rem; padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">38 units to be built at St. John’s Kitchen for people experiencing chronic homelessness</h1><h2 class="abstract___2C7AR" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; text-shadow: none; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(84, 84, 84); padding-bottom: var(--gutter-small); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">Working Centre, Perimeter Development teaming up to build individual rooms with private bathrooms and access to services at 97 Victoria St. N. in Kitchener</h2><div class="author-info___Zwd78" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);"><div class="authorInformationContainer___1Wdi5" data-lpos="article|author-top" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; -webkit-box-direction: normal; flex-direction: row; font-size: 0.778rem; width: fit-content;"><div class="authorItem___36jj0" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; -webkit-box-direction: normal; flex-direction: row; margin-right: 0.556rem;"><a class="authorFullName___1wKrW" href="https://www.waterloochronicle.ca/waterloo-on-author/luisa-d%E2%80%99amato/412D649F-ED04-4044-9960-516C14EA31B7/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 113, 58); text-decoration: none; width: fit-content; margin-left: 0.2rem;">Luisa D’Amato</a></div><div class="primarySource___2Bxtx" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: fit-content; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Waterloo Region Record</div></div></div><div class="publish-date___2PQuH" data-publishdate="2022-06-28T11:44:19Z" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); letter-spacing: 0.38px; line-height: 1.14rem; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; font-size: 0.778rem; padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">Tuesday, June 28, 2022</div><div class="share-container___1qwcG" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: var(--gutter-small); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);"><div class="articleShareOptionsContainer___3Od95" data-lpos="article|sharebuttons" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; -webkit-box-direction: normal; flex-direction: row; width: fit-content;"><a tabindex="0" rel="nofollow" title="Share on Facebook" aria-label="Share on Facebook" class="shareOptionLink___1nNIw facebook___1lctX" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(27, 134, 68); display: block; width: 1.5rem; height: 1.9rem; background-size: cover; cursor: pointer; background-image: url("/static/images/socialmedia/facebook.png"); align-self: center; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"></a><a tabindex="0" rel="nofollow" title="Share on Twitter" aria-label="Share on Twitter" class="shareOptionLink___1nNIw twitter___2jlvV" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(27, 134, 68); display: block; width: 1.8rem; height: 2rem; background-size: cover; cursor: pointer; background-image: url("/static/images/socialmedia/twitter.png"); align-self: center; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"></a><a tabindex="0" rel="nofollow" title="Share via Email" aria-label="Share via Email" class="shareOptionLink___1nNIw mail___rb7Um" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(27, 134, 68); display: block; width: 1.33rem; height: 1.33rem; background-size: cover; cursor: pointer; background-image: url("/static/images/socialmedia/mailto.svg"); margin-left: 0.3rem; align-self: center; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"></a></div></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">KITCHENER — The Working Centre and private-sector partners will create 38 new units of housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness, in a $19-million rebuild of the property where its soup kitchen is located at Victoria and Weber streets.</p></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">The project is supported by Perimeter Development Corporation, which is contributing $1 million and has also given its professional expertise to develop the plan with the non-profit Working Centre, which operates St. John’s Kitchen. Assistance was also provided by BNKC Architects.</p></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">“When people are going night after night without adequate sleep and consistently face theft and insecurity every day … it becomes unbearable,” said Stephanie Mancini, who co-founded The Working Centre with her husband, Joe.</p><div id="fsk_splitbox_2833_onscreen" class="fsk_splitbox_2833_onscreen sb-opened" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 20px auto; max-width: 603px;"><div id="video-ad" role="button" tabindex="0" data-lpos="gamp" data-testid="container" class="adSlot___3IQ8M" data-google-query-id="CLWSobSF3fgCFa764wcdXbAItw" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0; text-align: center; padding: 0px !important;"><div id="google_ads_iframe_58580620/Waterloo_Chronicle/news_2__container__" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0pt none;"><iframe id="google_ads_iframe_58580620/Waterloo_Chronicle/news_2" name="google_ads_iframe_58580620/Waterloo_Chronicle/news_2" title="3rd party ad content" width="2" height="1" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0" role="region" aria-label="Advertisement" tabindex="0" data-google-container-id="6" data-load-complete="true" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;"></iframe></div></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">“Every person needs privacy, rest and a place to feel secure — housing is a foundation for each of us to live more fully.”</p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">More than 1,000 people in Waterloo Region are homeless, according to <a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/council/2021/11/03/number-of-homeless-in-waterloo-region-has-tripled-in-three-years.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(27, 134, 68); text-decoration: none;">a count taken Sept. 21, 2021</a>. Of those, 412 were “sleeping rough” in encampments, in a car or on the street. That was more than twice the number of people in emergency shelters.</p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">The 38 new units are expected to be ready for occupancy December 2023. A third floor will be built at 97 Victoria St. N. for 19 units of housing. Another 19 units will be built on the second floor where the existing soup kitchen is now.</p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">Each room will be 250 square feet, with its own individual bathroom.</p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">It will be a place where “people can live safely and with dignity,” said Joe Mancini. </p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">Meanwhile, the soup kitchen will move to a newly built ground-floor space on the property, facing Heit Lane. It will be carbon-neutral and feature wood beams and a glass facade. </p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">Guests will have access to washrooms, showers, laundry facilities, medical services including mental health care, dental care and harm reduction support, outreach workers, opportunities for work, and more.</p><div class="inline-element___D6-1E" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; margin-bottom: var(--gutter);"><div id="bigbox-1" role="button" tabindex="0" data-lpos="gamp" data-testid="container" class="adSlot___3IQ8M" data-google-query-id="CMrTk76F3fgCFRzblAkdMwMO-A" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0; background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); 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margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><div id="fsk_splitbox_5208" class=" fsk_splitbox_5208" style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 603px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; height: 0px; text-align: center;"><iframe name="fsk_frame_splitbox" id="fsk_frame_splitbox" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 603px; height: 0px; border-style: none; margin: 0px;"></iframe></div></div><div class="container___373pw" data-lpos="promo-banner|1" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08) 0px 2px 8px 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08) 0px 2px 8px 0px; border: none; width: 675.1875px; display: flex; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-box-direction: normal; flex-direction: column; padding-bottom: var(--gutter);"><header class="container___2OPUo" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; -webkit-box-pack: justify; justify-content: space-between; padding: var(--gutter); position: relative; line-height: 1;"><h2 class="heading___I6H-_" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.1rem; font-size: 1.333rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; letter-spacing: 0.57px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Headlines newsletter</h2></header><p class="heading___1QQpn" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: var(--gutter-small); margin-bottom: var(--gutter); font-size: 0.89rem; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 1.2; display: flex; -webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-box-direction: normal; flex-direction: column; margin-left: var(--gutter);">Top stories delivered to your inbox.</p><div class="button-container___3Zl_C" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-left: var(--gutter);"><a class="signup___3pXsI filled-btn___2N4ty" data-alparams="{"ltype":"signup","ctype":"newsletter"}" href="https://www.waterloochronicle.ca/news-static/5920535-newsletter-sign-up-waterloo-chronicle/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: var(--color-primary-theme); color: white; text-decoration: none; font-size: 0.889rem; cursor: pointer; padding: 0.73rem 1.72rem; line-height: 1.5; border-radius: 0.3175rem; text-align: center; border: 1px solid transparent; transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, background-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, border-color 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s, -webkit-box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out 0s; width: 100%;">Sign Up</a></div></div></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">Craig Beattie, co-founder and CEO of Perimeter, said the company is proud to be helping with this “essential” project. </p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">“What we love about Joe and Stephanie is they are truly entrepreneurs at heart,” Beattie said in an interview. “We’re honoured to be working with them.”</p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">In addition to Perimeter’s donation and in-kind support, Beattie said he also would be helping to raise the remainder of funds the project needs from private donations — $5 million to $6 million. </p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">Joe Mancini said the project should qualify for funding from two federal government programs — the Rapid Housing Initiative and its Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program.</p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">In a statement, The Working Centre said that life in shelters and drop-in spaces “does serve basic needs in the short term.</p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">“However, it becomes unbearable over time as people lack privacy, rest and a place to feel secure.”</p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">Much like <a href="https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/02/05/a-better-tent-city-inspiring-similar-housing-solutions-in-other-cities.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(27, 134, 68); text-decoration: none;">A Better Tent City</a>, the tiny-home community on Ardelt Avenue that serves chronically homeless people, the individual rooms planned by The Working Centre will offer a sense of privacy that can’t be found in a traditional shelter, while also offering security that can’t be found in a tent.</p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">The residents of these small rooms will have access to community kitchen space and the same support services that the guests of the soup kitchen now receive.</p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);">To find out more, visit <a href="http://97victoria.theworkingcentre.org/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(27, 134, 68); text-decoration: none;">97victoria.theworkingcentre.org</a></p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><p class="article-p___34jbX" data-lpos="article|body" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; font-size: 1.111rem; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.4; letter-spacing: 0.3px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); padding-left: var(--tablet-padding); padding-right: var(--tablet-padding);"><span class="endnote_contrib" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Luisa D’Amato is a Waterloo Region-based staff columnist for The Record. Reach her via email: <a href="mailto:ldamato@therecord.com" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(27, 134, 68); text-decoration: none;">ldamato@therecord.com</a></span></p></div></div>https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2022/06/28/38-units-to-be-built-at-st-johns-kitchen-for-people-experiencing-chronic-homelessness.html</div><br><br><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPad</div></body></html>