Faith Welland Outreach is the recipient of a $56,700 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The grant, which is part of the 2023/24 Resilient Communities Fund, will help fund the future Community House on Roach Avenue, providing programs for an additional 25 children and youth in the Welland South area. 

This will be the first Community House to open in Niagara since 2009. 

“I’m delighted to hear that children in the Roach Avenue neighbourhood will have access to after school programs and summer camps close to home”, said Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch. 

“I know this creative partnership between public housing, the community support team from Faith Welland, and the Province of Ontario will enrich the lives of the families who use the Roach Avenue Community House”. 

Faith Welland Outreach has been working with Niagara Regional Housing to provide programs at the McLaughlin Street Community House since 2011. 

“Without their programs, many of the children would have no access to homework help or recreational and summer activities”, said Gary Zalepa, Niagara Regional Housing (NRH) Chair. “We will never know the full impact of Faith Welland Outreach’s work in our communities”. 

Early last year, Niagara Regional Housing approved a proposal by Faith Welland Outreach to open a new Community House on Roach Avenue. The new site will open once an existing unit on the street becomes vacant. 

“Distance often separates communities from the opportunities they seek”, said Jamie Shepherd, Faith Welland Outreach Chair. “This funding will help Faith Welland Outreach bring much needed value-added programs, training, and support to another community in Welland”. 

For more information about Faith Welland Outreach’s community programs, you can visit faithwelland.com/outreach.