The new and improved David Busy Centre is open and just in time for those looking to have a safe and warm place for the cold days ahead.
Located at 88 Mulcaster St., the David Busby Centre opened its doors Sunday evening to the guests they host who need some shelter and a bite to eat.
After eight months of renovations to double the size from 3,000 to 6,000 square feet, the facility, which will operate around the clock to assist the homeless, is already seeming like home to some.
Busby Centre executive director Sara Peddle tells BarrieToday that the outreach van had been spreading the word about the opening, as were the volunteers who had been working at the overnight emergency group lodging at the Collier Street United Church the last few weeks.
“We just opened at 5 p.m. and it has been a long time coming, but the day is here,” she said. “We did have some folks waiting and they’ve been trickling in, but we do have some guests already with us enjoying a meal and wanting to see the new space after hearing about it from our Collier Street United team who has been telling folks the last few days.”
Earlier this week, Barrie city council voted to provide a $200,000 grant, which Peddle said was an unbelievable gesture by council.
“That was a huge boost to this project as we needed to make sure we had the doors open before Christmas,” she said. “We were hoping to be open in November and it was already backed up so the support from the city just absolutely put it over the top for us.”
More information on what the David Busby Centre offers is available on their website at www.busbycentre.ca.
