Siloam Mission has launched a campaign to raise funds for a commercial laundry facility that will eventually employ some of the city’s most vulnerable.
The social enterprise laundry will also act as an employment-training program to act as a way of adding job experience to one’s resume.
“Many people experiencing homelessness in Winnipeg are doing the hard work of overcoming significant challenges, including trauma and addictions,” said Jim Bell, CEO of Siloam Mission.
“But when a person wants to get into the workforce and earn an income for themselves, they can struggle to find a job because they lack the experience or training. That’s a big problem for someone trying to move forward in life.”
The laundry will handle washing for the homeless shelter’s hundreds of bed sheets, blankets and pillowcases. Once it is better established, the plan will be to sell commercial laundry services to other non-profits and businesses in Winnipeg.
A $200,000 grant from The Winnipeg Foundation has been provided to build the space out on Logan Avenue where the laundry business will operate. Additional funds of $56,000 are also needed to help the facility launch this fall. Anyone willing to donate can do so by visiting Siloam.ca/laundry.
