THUNDER BAY – “The National Housing Strategy has an ambitious goal of reducing chronic homelessness by at least 50%. The Salvation Army Thunder Bay is an important partner in achieving that goal. Working together with diverse partners will ensure that all Canadians have a place to call home,” states The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour and Thunder Bay-Superior North MP.
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), announced a $3 million financial commitment from the federal government for the Salvation Army Journey to Life Centre.
Thanks to this commitment by the NHCF, a pillar initiative of the National Housing Strategy (NHS), and to the investments of other partners, including the City of Thunder Bay, this project will provide 46 new shelter/supportive beds and 20 new transitional units. The Salvation Army Journey to Life Centre will provide a place to call home for men with addictions and mental health issues, emergency shelter, as well as offering beds for parole clients who are finishing their sentences and re-establishing themselves. In addition, the new Journey to Life program will be introduced to help men transition from homelessness to independence with community supports.
“We, at The Salvation Army, believe that every person has strengths – that they have something to offer and we want to help them find out what that is and to start using it for the good – not only of themselves – but of those around them – to make our community stronger and safer and a great place to live,” says Major Lori Mitchell, Executive Director, The Salvation Army Thunder Bay.
The Salvation Army Thunder Bay social services have been in operation since 1917 and have been on the Cumberland Street North site since 1971. Throughout the years, the Salvation Army Thunder Bay provided residential services, community and family services, emergency disaster services and have helped many people in the area.
