By Taylor MacPherson

Volunteers renovate Homeward Bound building

Oct 20, 2017 | 10:00 AM

A group of hardworking volunteers got together this week to renovate one of the shared lounges at a Prince Albert apartment building that houses at-risk individuals.

The Branion Dr. building is operated by Homeward Bound, a YMCA program meant to help at-risk individuals overcome their personal issues by placing them into stable housing. Homeward Bound Manager Dave Hobden said the initiative provides people with the stability of a home, which will then allow them to tackle broader issues such as addictions, mental health and life skills.

“You can’t expect somebody who’s on the streets to worry about addictions,” he said. “Once they’re in the house, then we start providing supports.”

Hobden said Homeward Bound operates two apartment buildings and several houses around the city. About 120 at-risk men, women and children are currently housed through Homeward Bound, he said, and roughly 40 have been able to move out of the program on their own since it started in 2014.

Many community groups and local organizations have recognized the harm-reducing benefits of the program, Hobden said, and are eager to help out.

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This week, he said, a group of private volunteers came forward asking to help out with the renovations of a shared lounge in one of their apartments, which their clients use regularly to play cards or watch television. The volunteers repainted the lounge, he said, replaced all of the flooring, and completely redecorated the space.

Phil Parr, one of the volunteers, said between 10 and 15 people pitched in with the renovation since Monday, and the project is now near completion.

“I’ve been putting up some pictures today,” he said. “We’re getting to the closing stage of the renovation”

Parr was involved in a previous volunteer project with Homeward Bound to rejuvenate a client’s suite, and said he jumped at the chance to help the program again. The program is an important one, Parr said, and well worth supporting.

“I think it’s a very good idea,” he said. “It’s an important part of how we can help people who have difficulties maintaining residency under difficult circumstances.”

In addition to helping the clients of Homeward Bound, Parr said he hopes their efforts inspire other volunteers and local groups to get organized and get involved. All that’s needed, he said, are a few sets of hands and someone to organize a project.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews