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The homeless a concern as Indigenous Friendship Centre accepts grant

'They don’t have a home, they are couch surfing or they are in danger of being homeless, and it is not just individuals it is families as well'
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Indigenous Friendship Centre President Katherine Sarazin (middle), listens to Vic Fedeli during today's press conference. Photo by Chris Dawson.

It was a good news today for the Indigenous Friendship Centre as the facility on Cassells Street accepted a cheque for $43,900 from the Trillium Foundation that will help deliver improved infrastructure needed to repair the building’s foundation.   

Nipissing M.P.P. Vic Fedeli made the announcement at his constituency office this morning. 

However, the conversation turned more toward the homeless when officials from the Friendship Centre spoke to the media.   

Katherine Sarazin, President of the Indigenous Friendship Centre, says they cater to more than 300 homeless people at their building.  

“They don’t have a home, they are couch surfing or they are in danger of being homeless, and it is not just individuals it is families as well,” said Sarazin. 

The facility has only two employees that cater to the homeless people. 

“That is why we started looking at purchasing the building next to the friendship centre because we have that understanding of how many people, indigenous and non-indigenous, that are in crisis,” she said. 

The new site will also add two additional staff including a Youth Life Promotions worker and a Youth in Transition worker.  

 


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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