Downtown Mission homeless shelter expands to second site

Windsor's Downtown Mission homeless shelter is expanding its services to a second location designed toprovide beds for every client.

The new facility at 875 Ouellette Avenue will be able to give shelter to up to 75 people, in addition to offering regular addiction services.

• Homeless shelter expansion planned for Downtown Mission

An estimated 50 clients sleep at the current Victoria Avenue location each night, but accommodations are less than desirable with people sleeping on mats on the floor in the existing cafeteria.

"Right now, sleeping on the floor, in the samespotthatyou ate, there's just not a lot of dignity there," said Ron Dunn, the Mission's executive director."We have to expand to meet the current need."

Dunnoriginally looked at renovating the main Victoria site, but initial cost projections made that project far too expensive at an estimated $3.5 million. Going with a second location will reduce costs by about $2 million.

The new site, which should be operating by September,will allow women and men to have their own sleeping areas with additional space for youth. Full shower facilities will also be available.

Dozens of programs, including the soup kitchen and culinary arts courses, will continue at the Victoria site.