In the wake of recent criticism about the length of time it’s taken to get open, the Grace Inn Shelter Board of Directors has issued an open letter to Belleville Council, outlining its side of the story.
You can read the letter in its entirety here:
Attention:
Belleville City Council
169 Front St. Belleville, Ontario
K8N2Y8
February 1, 2019
Re: Grace Inn Homeless Shelter
To all our wonderful supporters and the compassionate citizens of this beautiful city;
The last couple weeks have finally brought the kind of cold, winter weather, for which Canada is known. This kind of bone chilling cold turns our attention to the plight of those who have no warm, safe place to spend the night, protected from the harsh elements.
Grace Inn is being established to offer warmth and hospitality to those in need, in these conditions and indeed all year round. Unfortunately, the Inn is not yet open. No one is more disappointed the Inn is not yet open than the board of Grace Inn Shelter. However, although we are frustrated, we are also deeply encouraged by the community support and the progress which is currently being made at 315 Church St., the eventual home of Grace Inn.
We, the board of Grace Inn, wanted to take this opportunity to say thank-you, to update you on the status of the Inn and to correct misinformation which has recently found its way into the public conversation.
The property at 315 Church St. was purchased from the city of Belleville, in the spring of 2017. Although the city had owned the building for many years, it had sat vacant until eventually it was purchased by a local concerned businessman.
The purchase was made for the express purpose of developing a temporary shelter for the homeless through the Grace Inn initiative. Soon after, Grace Inn became the new tenant of the 315 Church St. and the process of preparing the property for its new intended use began.
Indeed we were hopeful it would be opened by the winter of 2018, however, the process of completing such a project properly and in compliance with all building and safety codes is extensive. Engineer drawings covering structure and mechanical, were completed. Architectural drawings were poured over and finalized and submitted to the city. A Phase 1 Environmental Assessment, Site Condition and a Dangerous Substance Report were completed prior to beginning the building permit process.
A building permit was received from the city of Belleville at the end of October 2018. Until we received the permit, we were unable to proceed with the tendering process for trades. That process began in November.
Presently, work is well underway.
The internal demolition is almost completed and the process of updating mechanical, electrical and windows of the structure will begin shortly. Barring any unforeseen delays, work should be completed in the next three to four months.
It has been suggested the Inn does not have the finances to complete the project, with reference being made to Grace Inn’s financial report from 2017. (The financial reports of any registered Canadian Charity are a matter of public record on CRA’s website). The criticism has been leveled, that at the end of 2017, Grace Inn had only $65,000 in assets. That is true. That is not however, the case at present.
Whenever a project of this magnitude is being undertaken by a non-government funded volunteer group, fundraising is necessary.
The problem with beginning the fundraising effort too soon, is people can be skeptical of the legitimacy of the vision or donor fatigue may set in as people may grow weary hearing about the project before it begins operation. Start that process too late and you run the risk of not having sufficient funds when they are needed the most.
With this understanding, Grace Inn did very little fundraising in 2017 as we became increasingly aware that the project would not be completed any time soon. However in 2018, Grace Inn, blessed with a volunteer dedicated to fundraising, began to turn their attention to raising the funds necessary to complete the $600,000 project.
We are happy to announce not only has Grace Inn has paid rent for the facility for over a year, paid for every required assessment, paid for all architectural and engineering reports and drawings, we also have $360,000 on hand for renovation costs. In total half a million has come in over the last two years for Grace Inn, and all of it (with exception of $10,000 donation from Belleville City Council courtesy of casino revenue and $7908 from Hastings County), has come from private donors.
People like you.
Despite the criticism that has been leveled against the board of Grace Inn, work is going ahead and finances are in reasonably good shape, all because of the faithfulness of people, the supportive citizens of our great city.
We take this project very seriously.
Every member of the board of Grace Inn is motivated by a deep compassion for people and desire to provide a shelter that is inviting and safe and which plays a small but significant part in meeting the needs of some of our community’s most vulnerable.
In our zeal to share the vision and develop support, we underestimated the time that would be required to get the work underway and that has led to disappointment we are sure. However, at no time have any of us giving leadership to this project been guilty of taking our foot off the gas pedal.
We are all in and fully engaged in the process of moving forward.
The work is underway, interviews for the position of Executive Director have been completed. Soon someone will be hired who will become the face and voice of Grace Inn for the future. Soon staff will be hired. Volunteers will be trained. And Belleville will finally have a shelter for the homeless.
We weren’t able to be there in time for this winter’s cold snap. But with your continued support, we will be there next year, and for many years following.
Sincerely yours,
The Board of Grace Inn Shelter
