RICHMOND (NEWS1130) – Last month, we told you about a push by Richmond’s Drop-In Centre Action group to open drop-in facility in the city by this fall.

Today we can report it has secured both funding and a space.

On Monday, the group received cheques from Great Canadian Gaming, operators of the River Rock Casino, amounting to $15,000.

“It will more than help us get underway and we now eventually will be able to look for permanent digs for our drop-in centre,” says Dianne Woodhouse, head of the action group’s steering committee. “It’s been like Christmas in August. It’s been wonderful!”

The plan now is to take over a two-bedroom house on the grounds of St. Alban Anglican Church on a temporary basis, before a more permanent space can be found in a few years.

“We’re going to shoot for the first week in October and the second week in October will coincide with Homeless Week across Canada and we’d like to cut the ribbon at that point in time,” Woodhouse explains.

She points out the facility will be run completely by volunteers, along with a number of community partners waiting in the wings.