Youth Haven is getting more than just a face-lift with some help from the Simcoe County Home Builders' Association (SCHBA).
It was announced on Wednesday evening at Youth Haven’s annual general meeting that the organization's aging emergency shelter on Wellington Street near downtown Barrie will be torn down and rebuilt with a new and more structurally sound facility.
Youth Haven executive director Lucy Gowers told BarrieToday the demolition is set to begin in August 2023 and construction of the new shelter will only take a month.
The SCHBA plans to have the new building ready for the early part of October, Gowers said, "which is just amazing since they plan on starting the build at the beginning of September," she added.
The 'New Haven for Youth Haven' campaign began when Gowers called upon the SCHBA to see what upgrades could be made to the facility, which is currently housing 19 young people.
“They did a walk-through and essentially told us the building was best to be taken down because we could run into some problems down the road,” Gowers said. “They have jumped head first into helping and it's quite honestly an emotional time for all of us.
"This kind of support means so much to not just the volunteers, but to the youth as well," she added. "They need to see that people in their community have their backs.”
The SCHBA will be supplying all the tools, supplies and labour for the project.
Gowers said she and the Youth Haven staff and volunteers will be actively pursuing sponsors and help to build the facility.
The capital campaign request is between $600,000 and $1 million.
There are more than 600 youth in the region who rely on the support that Youth Haven provides, the organization says.
More information on the new build and how to help can be found here.
