St. Leonards hopes to expand
Posted by Stephen Rhodes
St. Leonard's House needs to expand with a 24 bed apartment building to meet a growing need in the community, Executive director and Rotarian Rick Brown told the club at its Monday meeting.
St. Leonard's House (Peel) provides counseling, training, housing and support to men in transition for the purpose of reintegration and therefore facilitates an improved quality of life for the community in general, says Rick.
"At St. Leonard' House (Peel) we help the community by helping men in transition to learn and work their way back into society. When we, the community, extend a helping hand, we are our brother's brother. When our brother succeeds, we all succeed. And that's the way it should be. That was the dream of Sir Robert Williams."
John Lomax, chair of the board at St. Leonards, says he was at first "cautious" when approached by Sir Robert because of the stereotype of being involved.
"But I took more out than I put in. The residents are heroes because they face issues most of us will never have to face in our lives. There is no substitute for that kind of satisfaction."
Rick says many of men "face years of isolation, undiagnosed mental health or are over medicated. There are concurrent disorders, abandonment and years of abuse. They are wounded and broken."
Yet, he says they are "generous and they can teach us about ourselves. They want to be successful, live full and productive lives and they can do all the important things in life."
Paul Gregory, who provides Homelessness and Housing Initiatives co-ordination for the Region of Peel says St. Leonard's House is a key partner with the Region in how it copes with the homeless.
"We are dealing with collective failures of our society and how we cope speaks to a sense of building community."
Programs at Rotary Resolve House include the woodshop, maintenance, church, recreation and fitness and voluntary community service.
"We can't do it alone. We need service clubs and government at all levels. We need to work together in a partnership with the community for the community," Rick says.
"There is no quick fix, solutions vary but it is clear that our relationship with the community is critical. The need is real to provide a safe and stable nurturing community."
Rick praised Rotary for "serving the homeless in a leadership way."
Please visit St. Leonard's House for more information of their good work.
Pictured is Paul Gregory receiving a History of our Rotary book from President Wendell.
"At St. Leonard' House (Peel) we help the community by helping men in transition to learn and work their way back into society. When we, the community, extend a helping hand, we are our brother's brother. When our brother succeeds, we all succeed. And that's the way it should be. That was the dream of Sir Robert Williams."
John Lomax, chair of the board at St. Leonards, says he was at first "cautious" when approached by Sir Robert because of the stereotype of being involved.
"But I took more out than I put in. The residents are heroes because they face issues most of us will never have to face in our lives. There is no substitute for that kind of satisfaction."
Rick says many of men "face years of isolation, undiagnosed mental health or are over medicated. There are concurrent disorders, abandonment and years of abuse. They are wounded and broken."
Yet, he says they are "generous and they can teach us about ourselves. They want to be successful, live full and productive lives and they can do all the important things in life."
Paul Gregory, who provides Homelessness and Housing Initiatives co-ordination for the Region of Peel says St. Leonard's House is a key partner with the Region in how it copes with the homeless.
"We are dealing with collective failures of our society and how we cope speaks to a sense of building community."
Programs at Rotary Resolve House include the woodshop, maintenance, church, recreation and fitness and voluntary community service.
"We can't do it alone. We need service clubs and government at all levels. We need to work together in a partnership with the community for the community," Rick says.
"There is no quick fix, solutions vary but it is clear that our relationship with the community is critical. The need is real to provide a safe and stable nurturing community."
Rick praised Rotary for "serving the homeless in a leadership way."
Please visit St. Leonard's House for more information of their good work.
Pictured is Paul Gregory receiving a History of our Rotary book from President Wendell.