The Downtown Mission has launched a new campaign to repurpose the Central library branch, on the same day, it announced it has sold its Victoria Ave. location.
It kicked off the "Building Hope" fundraiser with a goal of raising $9.1-million.
In March 2018, the mission agreed to purchase the Central library branch at 850 Ouellette Avenue for $3.6-million to house its administration, food services, shelter and 30 transitional apartments.
The current facility on Victoria Avenue has been sold for $900,000 but Executive Director Ron Dunn can't disclose the buyer.
"There are some church services that will be held out of here and some other programming that will happen," he says. "It fits better with the neighbourhood than we do."
Dunn admits it is a lofty fundraising goal, but the mission has outgrown its current space.
"We have become ground zero for a lot of the crisis that happen, they end up here and although we are proud to fit that bill and fill that need, it is expensive."
Executive Director Ron Dunn launches the Building Hope Campaign. March 6, 2019 (Photo by AM800's Teresinha Medeiros)
The mission currently offers 900 meals a day.
It takes possession of the library in June. Renovations will begin immediately and the mission hopes to move into the new location at 850 Ouellette Ave. in June 2020.
Dunn says so far, $2-million has been raised.