From ’chaos to stability’

By Vernon Daily Courier staff Wednesday, April 25, 2007 http://www.dailycourier.ca/stories.php?id=40725

A wing of Howard House men‘s shelter has taken on a new look after residents renovated their rooms. Each room cost around $500 to refurbish including new paint, throw carpets, pictures and other amenities. Barb Levesque, executive director of John Howard Society of North Okanagan/Kootenay, said donations from the community paid for the material and the residents did all the work. The house is divided into different stages. The first stage is where men staying at the facility live in a dorm with numerous beds. From there, they can move into smaller rooms with two beds and finally to their own private room. Each person must earn their way into the private quarters by getting a job, paying rent and proving they have the desire to support themselves. Levesque said not all of the men want to take that path, but for those who do the opportunity is there. While living at Howard House, the men are assisted in finding work, they can take counselling and a variety of programs are available to them. They can rent a room for up to 12 months. “It‘s a co-operative type thing,” Levesque said of the living quarters that have a common kitchen and washing facilities. “They form a bit of a community. They answer to each other. We expect them to act the same way as any community.”

Rent is $450 a month and the residents have a chance to purchase a few possessions and save up some money before moving out and getting their own place. “They manage their own affairs,” said Levesque, adding the men are moving from “chaos to stability.” Renovating the rooms themselves also gives the men a sense of ownership and pride. Donations for the renovations came from the Vernon Teachers Association, Upper Room Mission, the Alliance Church and Shelby Wall. Levesque said there are nine more rooms that need to be renovated and once again the facility is looking for donations.