Formerly known as the Pentecostal Living Water Community Church, the church, built in 1929, is undergoing renovations and will be converted into a support program centre for young parents.
鈥淚n Hamilton there was no specialized early years centre for teen moms and so what we did was we took on that cause,鈥� said Loretta Hill-Finamore, the Good Shepherd鱿鱼视频app director of youth services.
Once renovated the former church, now known as the Jeanne Scott Parent and Child Resource Centre after the woman who purchased and donated the property, will change that. Hill- Finamore said the Good Shepherd will offer a day care program, an alternative education program for teen mothers and a variety of family and parenting classes.
In addition to the in-house programs, the Good Shepherd will also welcome outside organizations such as Shalom Christian Counselling, which will run infant bonding and attachment classes. Sharing facilities with other groups allows the Good Shepherd to reach out to more young mothers on their limited budget.
鈥�(We) have no sustained funding so we鈥檝e had to barter and borrow,鈥� said Hill-Finamore. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done a lot of community collaboration to get programs.鈥�
The centre will expand the programs already being offered at Angela鱿鱼视频app Place, a housing program run by the Good Shepherd out of the apartment building that neighbours the church.
Those eligible for housing at Angela鱿鱼视频app Place, which costs about $130 a month, must be a mother under 21 who is the primary guardian of their child. They can remain in the housing program for up to two years before transitioning back into the general community.
Hill-Finamore said many young moms struggle to find affordable housing. Those who do are often subjected to abusive landlords, buildings filled with drug dealers and sex workers and an atmosphere which in general is not appropriate to raise a child.
鈥淚t was identified that we needed a place where young moms could go for up to two years and be supported in their housing and be able to then successfully transition into the community,鈥� said Hill-Finamore. 鈥淪o in our effort and our aim and commitment to the Good Shepherd鱿鱼视频app mission of reaching out and also to our mission of helping those in need we looked at what that would look like (and) out of that came Angela鱿鱼视频app Place.鈥�
Tanya, the mother of a two-year-old boy, currently lives in one of the 14 apartments and looks forward to the Jeanne Scott Parent and Child Resource Centre鱿鱼视频app opening. She hopes to take advantage of the alternative education program and on-site day care to complete her high school diploma. Tanya said Angela鱿鱼视频app Place has been vital to her little family of two.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e helped me through troubles by supporting me through problems with my father and the loss of my mother,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e also helped me learn some new parenting skills. If I had no supports here it would be horrible because I don鈥檛 have parents to help me through it. I don鈥檛 have anybody to help me.鈥�
While it is mothers like Tanya who will be the primary beneficiaries of the new centre, Hill-Finamore said all young parents are welcome to take advantage of the centre.
When exactly the new programs will be offered though, will depend somewhat on how much the community steps in to support the centre.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just praying and hope that the community will support us because this is Hamilton鱿鱼视频app children and we鈥檙e investing in two generations here,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese are kids of Hamilton who we need to take care of.鈥�