Riverside Mission To Close Permanently
By Robert Thomas
Although not confirmed it appears effective Friday (tomorrow) after supper Soul’s Harbour - the group that operates Riverside Mission - is set to permanently close.
In an email to Square One Community Inc executive director of Soul’s Harbour Joe Miller announced the decision.
“It is with a sad and heavy heart that I am making the announcement of a permanent closure for Riverside Mission in Moose Jaw!” Miller wrote, adding “As of tomorrow, after serving the supper meal, all of our services there will be closed permanently. There is no intention to re-open any of the services.”
Miller blamed the permanent closure on several reasons.
He wrote the group had already been waiting 11 weeks for a building permit was a key factor behind the decision.
“It is hard not to think that we are simply being stalled. There is much resistance to this project within the community!” Miller wrote.
The plans to build a new facility on the 200 block of River Street West has drawn concerns from some business owners, proponents of a proposed new hotel and the advocacy group the Good Neighbours Group. All had called for Souls’ Harbour to re-think the proposed location directly across the street from the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
The location issue had come up at a heated meeting of Council and also a special meeting to deal with public safety and homelessness.
He also claimed that multiple local trades declined to tender on the proposed project on the 200 block of River Street West making proceeding more difficult.
The difficulties led to ballooning construction costs making the project not viable Miller wrote.
“…the hard costs for construction have increased by more than 25%; meaning the 'all in' building cost is nearly 5 million dollars now. We cannot justify such an expenditure for the community,” Miller wrote to Square One.
The location of Souls Harbour’s proposed facility on the 200 block of River Street West
Pushback from the community was also noted as he wrote “We are discovering that our services are simply not wanted in the location where the people we serve are.”
The condition of the current Riverside Mission is another major consideration with Miller writing it was “beyond repair now.”
“Also, from the safety perspective alone (health and fire), their requirements for the continuing use of the facility have become quite heavy,” Miller wrote.
Miller wrote all present staff will receive appropriate severance according to labour legislation and an additional $1,000 “as a means of saying thanks for your services.”
Due to the late hour MJ Independent was unable to contact anyone to obtain more information.
It appears though local social and religious groups are presently scrambling to fill the void left behind with the sudden closure of Riverside Mission.
EMAIL FROM JOE MILLER TO DELLA FERGUSON OF SQUARE ONE REVELING THE REASONS FOR THE CLOSURE:
Subject: Permanent Closure of Riverside Mission
Hi Della
It is with a sad and heavy heart that I am making the announcement of a permanent closure for Riverside Mission in Moose Jaw! As of tomorrow, after serving the supper meal, all of our services there will be closed permanently. There is no intention to re-open any of the services.
The reasons for closing Riverside Mission are as follows: 1) After more than 11 weeks of waiting for our building permit we are still waiting. It is hard not to think that we are simply being stalled. There is much resistance to this project within the community! It should also be noted that multiple Moose Jaw trades declined to tender on the building. In addition, after the tendering process the hard costs for construction have increased by more than 25%; meaning the 'all in' building cost is nearly 5 million dollars now. We cannot justify such an expenditure for the community. 2) We are discovering that our services are simply not wanted in the location where the people we serve are! 3) The current building is beyond repair now, and though we have managed to hold it together for the last 5 years, although with significant maintenance cost, we just cant use it anymore! Also, from the safety perspective alone (health and fire), their requirements for the continuing use of the facility have become quite heavy. 4) All of the current staff in Moose Jaw will receive the appropriate severance as per labour regulations, as part of the lay off process, and an additional $1,000 bonus as a means of saying thanks for your services.
This is all for now!
Joe.
"Real Answers for Real People" - For more information visit www.shrmsk.com
Joseph Miller | Executive Director | Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission