The new Youth Wellness Hub is receiving a boost from the city.
Council recently approved giving the initiative $80,000 from the grants to volunteer organizations account.
The hub is a place for youth ages 12 to 25 and will be offered at different locations in the city.
Throughout the summer, youth connectors have been gathering information from their peers, with the aim of having a soft launch of the initiative in the late fall.
The funding request was made to council at the July 10 meeting. At that time, council heard that the goal is to offer the wellness hub three days a week (two week days and one Saturday).
Anne Vincent told council that they’ve started the paperwork to become a non-profit.
“We are not a non-profit at this moment, the Timmins Native Friendship Centre is one of our community partners and they have generously offered to receive funds on our behalf and administer them on our behalf,” she said.
Along with the city funding, the group has been receiving in-kind donations.
“The schools, for example, the community partners are not necessarily providing us with money in-pocket, they are, however, providing us with very substantial in-kind donations. So that includes space at no cost, it includes the provision of the counselling support component within their existing budget,” she said.
The cash council approved for the wellness hub wasn't budgeted for this year.
“If savings in this area can be found, this will help fund the contribution,” reads a report from Natalie Moore, the director of finance and treasurer.
"If saving are not found to cover this cost, it will be included in the city's overall surplus/deficit at year end."
