It will be next year before a youth mental health facility opens in downtown Sarnia.
The ACCESS Open Minds Centre is one of many projects that was plagued with delays due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Committee Chair Kathy Alexander said they hope to award the contract by the end of next month and says incredible work has been ongoing behind the scenes.
"We have a new, fingers crossed, occupancy date of January 2022," said Alexander. "So, despite the hurdles we're still very optimistic that we are continuing to work very diligently to get things going and very excited to open in the new year."
Alexander said it's hoped construction will begin late this summer. The facility, at the former CIBC building on Front Street was originally planned to open in 2020.
Integrated Vice-President of Mental Health and Addictions at Bluewater Health and Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent (CMHA LK) Paula Reaume-Zimmer said the need for such a facility continues to grow, and it's long overdue.
"Certainly we needed this year's ago that's for sure, but we can't change that," said Reaume-Zimmer. "The demand is more significant than ever. The inpatient unit right now, we are usually double occupancy for child and adolescent beds and the unfortunate piece is that there's not a lot of alternatives."
Fundraising for the $2.5-million facility is ongoing. So far, over $1.7-million has been raised.
The Judith & Norman Alix Foundation recently contributed $150,000 towards the project.