The Pidcock House emergency shelter in Courtenay will be undergoing a major renovation and expansion in the new year, as announced Friday by the Salvation Army and BC Housing.
The roughly $500,000 retrofit — to start Jan. 3 — includes a two-storey addition and a complete redesign of the entire shelter. It will include a commercial kitchen and dining room, six transition bedrooms and a pet-friendly room.
Funding also enables the availability for new programming that will include life-skills training (self-care, anger management, self-esteem, healthy boundaries), work skills training (fork lift certification, WHIMS, first aid) and job placement.
The anticipated completion date and grand opening is set for late-June 2017.
Stay tuned for further details.
•The Sally Ann’s Kettle campaign is behind in terms of donations, compared to last year.
“With all of these added programs, we have some added expenses,” community ministries director Brent Hobden said. “We’re going to struggle this year in order to keep all of that going.”