A homeless drop-in centre in Wallaceburg has now reopened at its new location.
Reach Out Chatham-Kent, or R.O.C.K., announced on Monday that its new drop-in centre, located at 233 Nelson St., has opened its doors to those in need.
The centre’s former location on Dufferin Avenue closed on March 31 with R.O.C.K. officials citing a withdrawal of funding from the United Way of Chatham-Kent and the end of a partnership with the 7 Generations Indigenous Cultural Friendship Centre as the reason for the closure.
However, R.O.C.K. was able to move the centre to a new location thanks to funding from the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and a donation from a generous local family.
The new location will serve as the Wallaceburg hub for R.O.C.K., and will provide food, harm reduction supplies, hygiene products, community connection, and a safe, warm place to go. The centre will operate Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The drop-in centre originally opened in 2022 as a partnership between the United Way, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ska:Na Family Learning Centre. R.O.C.K. currently serves 120 individuals each week in Wallaceburg through its outreach program.