Belleville needs a homeless shelter and one city resident is working to make it a reality by this fall.
With the help of a good friend, Kelly Oribine has started a campaign to raise funds for a 12-to-16 bed emergency shelter named the Grace Inn for adults in downtown Belleville, with a special focus on dignity, community and mentorship.
The 31-year-old says during her time working at the Nightlight drop-in centre in Belleville it became evident to her the city needs a shelter.
Oribine explains the reasoning behind their decision to name the shelter the Grace Inn.
The goal is to raise $10,000 for a location and the initiative has raised almost $1,200 in just three days.
If you would like to donate, volunteer or just get more information, click here.
You can also contact Oribine via email at kelly@graceinnshelter.com
Meanwhile Belleville councillor Garnet Thompson who has been working with various agencies in the city to develop plans to build a new facility that would incorporate transitional homes plus an emergency shelter together says everything is still in the early stages.
Thompson confirms an earlier timeline he provided to Quinte News of three to four years for a homeless shelter is still probable and unlike Oribine’s campaign their group isn’t at the fundraising stage just yet.
Thompson adds the group is still scoping out possible locations and meets again in February.
