Drop-In Centre will close March 31

Wayne Moore Feb 12, 2010 / 3:18 pm CASTANET:
The Kelowna Drop-In and Information Centre will close its doors March 31. The death knell for the centre came Friday morning when Castanet learned the building, owned by the Drop-In Society, was put up for sale. Asking price, $530,000. KDIC board interim chair, Dixon Sookraj, says funding cuts is the root cause for the closure. "Like many in the non-profit human services sector, the Kelowna Drop-In Centre is experiencing dramatic funding cuts and is unable to continue to provide the services that its service users and the community have become accustomed," says Sookraj. "The present climate is one of government funding cuts and the KIDC is left with few options." The Drop-In Centre on Leon Avenue has provided numerous services to the homeless and working poor since it opened more than 20 years ago. Those services include food, hygiene and laundry services and many outreach services and programs. The centre provided nearly 80,000 meals in 2009. Word of struggles at the Drop-In Centre surfaced in November. Executive Director Selena Stearns said at the time their resources were being stretched thin and they were having trouble maintaining service levels as more and more homeless came to the Central Okanagan. A fundraiser planned for December had to be postponed due to a lack of ticket sales. "The board, staff and service users are hopeful another option will be found before the March 31 deadline. We have witnessed how the Kelowna community can pull together to help one another," added Sookraj. "This is one of those situations that will require action from our community to ensure that these essential services will remain in place for those who are most vulnerable, homeless, working poor, mentally ill, addicted, marginalized and elderly." Proceeds from the sale of the building will be used to meet the Drop-In Centre's financial obligations as it ends operations.