SAULT STE. MARIE -- Located in a two-story house just a couple of minutes from the city’s downtown core, Pauline’s Place, the emergency shelter for youth, women, and families has been a staple on Queens Street for the past 11 years.
Earlier this month, the not for profit agency moved to former Steelton Senior Citizens Centre on Wellington Street.
“The reason we moved down here is the old place is over 100 years old and we were having a lot of issues,” said Anne Penney, Executive Director of Pauline’s Place.
This location does have some major differences than the Queen Street location.
The building is surrounded by houses, apartment building and business.
With fewer beds right now, staff will look to find a way to add more once the pandemic is over.
“Fourteen would be our line and after COVID is finished we will be looking at putting it up to twenty-two and how that would work,” said Penney.
It is unknown what will happen to the former location and Penney says staff still use the garage as storage for furniture that is donated to give to those who eventually find new housing.
“I will always miss Queen Street. Queen Street was good, it was right in the middle, it was in a good place. But again it is about the upkeep and not being able to afford it. Here we do have access to a lot of things we’re just gonna have to work on how to make things work.”
