Under One Roof breaks ground

Squamish Helping Hands has broken ground on their new building, celebrating the start of on-site civil work.

Several key members of the organisation attended a small ceremony on November 5th, that was attended by Mayor Patricia Henitzman and Mayor Elect Karen Elliot.

Henitzman says it’s been a long journey; “I credit the community, they appreciate the inclusivity and tolerance and [that] making sure all of our citizens have the best opportunity to succeed in life is important… you’re only as good as your most vulnerable people, this is monumental”.

The Under One Roof site on Third Avenue in downtown Squamish will feature affordable housing consisting of a range of options, while also providing a community space that will include a food hub, drop-in centre, emergency shelter, meeting spaces and more.

The facility will include partners such as the Squamish Food Bank, Cutting Barriers, Vancouver Coastal Health and others who will share the space to foster collaborative solutions.

Executive Director of Squamish Helping Hands, Maureen Mackell says it couldn’t come at a better time following recent flooding at their current location; “Just getting started really, just, kind of restores our faith”.

Although still pending final project approval, it is hoped the building will be completed in the summer of 2020. The public will start to see the real building work take place in January.