The Centre has operated out of the Rotary House since 2015

By Shaun Penner

Saint Lawrence Centre

Saint Lawrence Centre temporarily closing its doors

Mar 29, 2019 | 1:59 PM

The Saint Lawrence Centre will be shuttering its services for the next few weeks, while the Rotary House puts new rules and regulations in place on their building.

The Centre offers daytime support services to Grande Prairie’s homeless community who utilize Rotary House’s overnight mat (intox) program. However, with Rotary House operating at near triple capacity over the last year, they will be enforcing fire regulations that stipulate that only 37 people (not the 70-80 that have been utilizing it) can use their service daily. With that new information, the Saint Lawrence Centre will be taking a step back to find out what the best solution is for a sustainable future for the program, even if that means having to find a new space to operate out of.

“Just until… the dust settles, and we can see what things are going to look like here in the building.” – Jared Gossen, Project Lead

“All of these changes have effected, kind of our comfort right now in the building,” said Project Lead for the Centre Jared Gossen. “So, we are closing all our daytime services, except for Saturday supper, which is over at the Church of Christ. Just until… the dust settles, and we can see what things are going to look like here in the building.”

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A major hurdle Gossen points out is the lack of designated spaces that the centre can operate in around the city. He said he expects to call Rotary House home for the foreseeable future, adding that it helps the homeless community in Grande Prairie have a central location to access services. With that, it also helps keep people out of business and residential areas of the city.

“Unfortunately, when it comes to things like using a washroom, or even sitting down in Grande Prairie during the daytime, the Saint Lawrence Centre is kind of the only spot where people can just relax and know they are not going to be rushed off just because they are homeless,” said Gossen.

With the cut in capacity of Rotary House, many of the city’s homeless have had to find other means of shelter. Gossen says some have started camps in Muskoseepi Park, while others have found sheds in neighbouring areas of the Centre. Though some have also found housing through other programs in the city, Gossen hopes the clients of the Centre continue to stay safe wherever they end up during the closure.

He adds that staff and clients, as well as the residents of Grande Prairie, have been supportive since the announcement was made on social media on Thursday, knowing that Rotary House must make the right decisions for the future of the program will help make the Saint Lawrence Centre stronger. But that doesn’t make it an easy decision to make.

“We’ve had some severely vulnerable people come up to us the last couple of days. For some of them, it’s the first clear conversation we’ve had (with them), and they ask, ‘where are we supposed to go?’ said Gossen. “Honestly, it is a very emotional time… but we just have to make strategic choices that make it so we can provide services in the future.”

The Saint Lawrence Centre will continue with its fundraisers throughout the spring, including their 2^nd annual Open Hearts, Open Doors Dinner and Auction on April 26 at the Holiday Inn and Conference Centre. Any proceeds raised, should the doors stay closed during the warmer months, will go towards the programs winter projects.