The downtown building will provide a safe space for youth to hang out, while also housing mental health and addiction services, employment services, housing and income support, and anti-trafficking support, others.
Sault Ste. Marie’s long-awaited youth wellness center project is officially underway and, if all goes according to plan, will open by the end of the year.
An announcement was made Friday morning with community members outside the former Independent Order of Odd Fellows hall on Dennis Street, just across from the bus terminal.
When opened as the Youth Wellness Hub, it will provide a safe space for young people aged 12-25 and host a range of services including mental health and addiction supports, employment services, housing and support of income and support against human trafficking. among others.
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 youthful perspective on the need for such a center in the community.
“A lot of people my age live with their grandparents or don’t have a stable home, so having this place where you can come and eat and hang out with your friends is a great idea,” Lecroix said.
Cooke said there is a lack of positive things for young people to do in Sault Ste. Marie and hope that the center will help solve this problem.
“There’s not much to do or things to do are always going to the mall or hanging out at your house, but none of that is ever in a youth safe space where you can be sure you’re safe. especially with our current mental health struggles,” Cooke said. “Now there will be a place where people can congregate safely and not to mention the services that will be offered here that young people can’t access on their own.”
Bob Wooley is one of a dozen active members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a 130-year-old service club in the city that once had hundreds of members. He said it’s hard to see the building sold, but he’s glad it will find new life serving the community.
“It’s very bittersweet,” Wooley said. “”It’s bittersweet because we’re very sad to see the building go, but very happy it’s going to the youth of the community.”
The building is being purchased for $180,000, and the deal will close on Saturday. Current Odd Fellows members were on hand during Friday’s announcement to watch the building transition from the service club to its new owner, the 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 owns it, we’re leasing to them. This is their wheelhouse: property management and renovation,” Juma said.
The hall was built in 1951 and needs some repairs and improvements before it can open its doors 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.
“Our hope would be to have a grand opening this year, but that may or may not happen just because of the extent of the renovations,” Juma said.
Mike Nadeau is the executive director of the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB), which oversees SSMHC. He said it needs a new roof and some electrical work.
“For the most part, the bones are in very good condition,” 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 operate it ask for in improvements to the building.
“Ali and community partners will be responsible for telling us what they need. It’s our job to make sure we’re driving and getting the best value,” Nadeau said.
These community partners include 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 the City of Sault Ste. Mary
To date, the City of Sault Ste has committed $100,000 in funding. Marie, with an additional $100,000 from Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario. Algoma Family Services is providing $52,000 and CMHA – Algoma has committed $50,000.
Juma said the location in front of the bus terminal is key because all youths who use it will be given a monthly bus pass to ensure they can get back and forth, or use it to also access the employment or other community services.
A commercial kitchen that already exists in the basement of the building will also be put to good use for job skills training and meal preparation.
“The fact that this has a commercial kitchen will allow us to prepare many meals. There are so many children going hungry right now,” Juma said.