NDG's Head & Hands relocates to more accessible location

Head & Hands has packed up its Sherbrooke Street location and moved to the former site of the Benny Library, on Benny Street.

The new spaceguarantees privacy for those accessing medical services, while allowing for a collaborative work environment for employees,Head & Handsorganizers say.

It's also far more accessible.

"Before, the health clinic used to be on the second floor," said Andrea Clarke, executive director of Head & Hands.

"We could offer services to our clients on the first floor, but we didn't even have a ramp to get into the building."

Now, the medical wing and all other services are accessible by ramp, and the entire Head & Hands team is on the same floor, making it easier to point people to other corners ofthe organization, she said.

And the young parent program, which has never been in the same building as the other programs, will join the services under the same rooffor the first time in its 30 years of existence.

• Welcome Hall Mission to expand services with free grocery store in Montreal North

'A radical improvement'

Though the square footage is the same as the Sherbrooke location, organizers say the new one presents a big improvement.

"People are elated," Clarke said. "Being in this space means we will continue to be able to serve our community for decades to come."

• Head & Hands 'Street Work' program back after being cut in 2011

The organization has had a huge impact on some community members, like Lenin Aular, who first came to Head & Hands nine months ago.

He stopped by for their food pantry service, and later, came for counselling.

"I realized that I could talk to the people there,you know, I could talk to them about my life, my experiences, how I was feeling. And they would always be there, open-minded, and listen to you."

Aular now volunteers at Head & Hands.