By Naini Cloutier
The Lowertown Community Resource Centre (LCRC) needs your help to restructure its space to better serve its clients. The centre must raise $50,000 to add to the $60,000 in capital funds already committed by the City of Ottawa for specific enhancements of the current facility.
Since the 1970s, the LCRC has served the community’s most vulnerable residents from the same location at 40 Cobourg Street. When the building was designed and constructed in 1975, the primary focus was on the Lowertown Pool and the Patro. The LCRC was not central to the plan and this is evident to anyone who visits for the first time. Just finding an entrance is a challenge. Is it the one from the parking lot, or the pool, or from Patro Street?
Staff members at the LCRC work every day with clients who live in poverty, face isolation, experience racism and deal with discrimination. LCRC programs address the various crises that residents may face on a regular, sometimes daily basis. In addition to giving information and referrals to other existing services, workers offer counselling for individuals and families. The programs encompass parent support, early childhood development, health promotion, youth activities and ongoing community engagement.
Physical changes are needed to ensure greater confidentiality, accessibility and personal safety.
Modifications that would greatly improve the facility in this direction include:
- Better signage and more lighting in the dark exterior passageway from the parking lot, to enable safe and secure entry
- Modifying the reception area to allow clients more privacy (as the reception area is shared with the dental clinic in the same facility) and to make the reception counter more accessible to individuals in wheelchairs and scooters
- Create a children’s’ program area within the centre so that caregivers can more easily connect with other services
- Provide space for residents to access computers
While the City of Ottawa provides the core funding for programs, the LCRC has to share the costs on structural renovations. The planned alterations will allow staff to better serve the needs of Lowertown’s diverse community.
Businesses and individuals willing to donate should know that the LCRC can provide a charitable tax receipt. Online donations are possible through our website at www.crcbv.ca. Anyone wishing more information can contact Naini Cloutier at ncloutier@crcbv.ca or Christian Ndashimye at cndashimye@crcbv.ca