OLDS — In all likelihood, construction on a building to house the Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society (MVESS) won’t begin for another year – unless a sugar daddy of some sort offers the society a huge donation.
That’s the word from MVESS director Carol Johnston.
During an interview, Johnston said the MVESS board had hoped to build the facility as soon as this spring, but decided to wait until next spring, to ensure they have the entire $400,000 estimated cost for the structure in the bank – plus operating costs for a year or so, just to be on the safe side.
Last year, MVESS signed a long-term lease with the Town of Olds for 0.64 acres of property on 54th Street at the end of 50th Avenue as a place to house the shelter.
Johnston and MVESS outreach services coordinator Emilie Webb unveiled a sketch of the proposed facility on-screen during the 10th École Olds High School Interact Club Banquet, held March 22 in the school's commons.
Each year the Interact Club chooses a beneficiary for the banquet which serves as a fundraiser. This year, the club chose the MVESS to be that beneficiary.
Johnston said plans call for the facility, which looks like an old-fashioned house, to cover 3,000 square feet on three floors.
MVESS officials met with an architect and contractor who told them it would cost about $400,000 to build the structure.
Johnston said so far, the society has managed to raise close to $200,000 for the shelter.
Johnston said the top floor of the facility will have two to three units with a bathroom and play area.
The main level will contain an accessible bedroom and bath, an office, communal kitchen, dining area, living room and of course, an entrance.
The basement will have an office/meeting room, a laundry room and storage.
“They tell us you can never have enough storage," Johnston said.
Johnston said this year’s fundraising campaign will begin with a radiothon on May 11 and will continue “until we actually get it built.” A radiothon last May raised about $35,775 as of the day it was held.
However, Johnston said if someone were to come forward and give them, say, $300,000 “we would start (construction) tomorrow.”
During the Interact banquet speech, she said the basement of the shelter may be constructed this year, just to give potential donors confidence that it will indeed be completed.
“We think maybe if we have something there and show we’re doing something, people would be more inclined to come along and help,” she told the banquet crowd.
Johnston thanked the Interact Club and those who attended the dinner for supporting the society.
“We feel that what we do is important in the community and is making a difference. And we would also like to ask for your support as we move forward with our plans,” she said.
