The Downtown Mission is a little closer to reaching its goal for the new building project.
The United Church of Canada Foundation donated $50,000 to the transitional housing program that is set to go on the second floor of the library building at 850 Ouellette.
"The difference it would make in the lives of those that needed to have a place to live, that had gone through the programs here and had an opportunity then to be sort of held by the mission and then released into the community with more strength and more capacity," said Armour.
Rendering of a transitional housing unit planned for the second floor of the new Downtown Mission building, September 30, 2019.
The mission plans to build 34 transitional housing units for people who are ready to move out of the shelter system but can't find affordable housing.
The Downtown Mission takes possession of the library building at the end of February and will start renovations on the first floor for administrative offices.
In total, the mission needs to raise $9.3 million to purchase the building and complete the renovation project.
"We're at about $2.4/$2.5 million which is a lot of money but certainly there's a lot more work to be done. Our goal is to go into the library without a mortgage. Right now we've worked with TD, we have a mortgage in place but there's a lot of work to be done," said Ron Dunn, executive director with the Downtown Mission.
Dunn is calling on the community to help raise the rest of those funds. If they need to the construction project can be completed in two phases but Dunn says they are hopeful they can raise the money and complete the project within a year of getting possession of the building.