MONCTON – A Moncton organization that feeds the city’s homeless population says it is no longer homeless itself.
The charitable group known as The Humanity Project had been serving food to people outside, but has since moved into a former curling club where it will not have to pay rent.
Volunteer Shelley Butler, a representative for the group, said the new spot is ideal.
Curl Moncton owns the building on Lutz Street which was shut down and put up for sale last summer. Club president Ellery Robichaud said The Humanity Project and a tutoring group called What Kids Need Moncton have been permitted to move in rent-free, with an option to buy the building after six months.
“Do we believe in what they are doing? Yes. Not only because we have an option of moving our property, but also doing the right thing for the community is fantastic,” said Robichaud.
Butler said buying the building is “definitely a dream” for the organization.
However, she said there are many hurdles to jump before the groups will be able to purchase the $400,000 property. She said the property will have to be re-zoned to allow for a soup kitchen, and the group will meet with city officials on Tuesday to discuss it.
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The group also must pay for the building’s utilities at a cost of about $3,200 per month. Butler said The Humanity Project does not have any government funding and currently only has enough money to operate until the end of January.
“We are relying on our people. People helping people is really what the Humanity Project and What Kids Need Moncton and feed the community is all about,” she said. “We want out local businesses to come and support us.”
Amanda Pooley from What Kids Need Moncton said the building will provide a more accessible location.
“I am going to move the tutoring program in there and make it more convenient, on a better bus route for families to get to us,” she said, adding that the group hopes to hire more teachers and bring in more students. The program currently offers free tutoring to 18 students.
Butler said she does not know if the new location will become the group’s permanent home, but she is happy to no longer have to operate outside.
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