The Arrowhead Centre Society will be able to survive for at least one more month thanks to $750 worth of personal donations to the centre and a $4,000 interim funding grant from Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) this week.
"Brenda Langevin said she is interested in seeing our proposal for funding and she granted us the interim funding until she has a chance to go over it," said Cort Lynch, director of Arrowhead.
Langevin is the director of acute home and community care for the Sunshine Coast and Powell River; however, she was away on holidays this week and unable to speak to Coast Reporter. VCH spokespeople also failed to respond in time for Coast Reporter deadlines.
The money gives Arrowhead enough time to have their five-year operating plan completed and submitted to VCH, but whether they will be granted operating funds from the health authority is still up in the air.
Powell River Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons says he will help the society fight for the funding.
"There are a number of outreach programs like this one in the Lower Mainland. It's like a rich oasis compared to the dry desert of this place. All we have for outreach programs on the Coast is essentially Chaster House and an outreach component of Mental Health and Addictions in an outbuilding on hospital grounds. That's not enough. We need the services Arrowhead is providing to this community," Simons said.
Arrowhead runs the Coast's only drop-in centre for people with mental illness and they hold the mandate to help members integrate back into society.
Many of their members are transient or homeless and the drop-in centre offers a place to do laundry, have a shower, eat a hot meal, use the computer, watch TV, listen to music, sleep or relax with a coffee. There are also counsellors and people knowledgeable about mental health services on the Coast available to help members connect with the services they need.Without the centre in operation, members worry they will no longer have a safe place to gather in the community or to get support.
The District of Sechelt has stepped up to help Arrow-head complete its operating plan. Mayor Cam Reid said he is 100 per cent behind the society's efforts to secure long-term funding.
"We strongly support the efforts to help this segment of our community we want these people to feel valued and part of our community. We'd like to see the government support Arrowhead's fundraising efforts by providing core funding to make certain they are allowed to carry on. We will work with Nicholas Simons to gain that funding from the province," Reid said.
Arrowhead is thankful for the political support and hopes it will tip the scales in their favour.
If long-term core funding can be established, Arrowhead plans to move into the old RCMP building in Sechelt where they will offer housing for the homeless and a variety of programs and services for those with mental health issues in our communities.
They are looking for donations to stay operational until core funding can be found and ask the community to continue their support.
"I would like to ask people have they given to the tsunami efforts, to hurricane Katrina? And how much have they given to Arrowhead? We are right here doing extremely important work. Charity starts at home and we may not be a sexy cause but we are a local necessity. Giving to us helps people right here in serious need," volunteer counsellor Jan Michael Sherman said.
If you would like to give you can send a cheque to Box 676 Sechelt, B.C. V0N 3A0 or make a donation at any Royal Bank to account number 050100031005990. Tax receipts are available for donations of any size.
For more information about Arrowhead, phone 604-885-0989.
