The shovel went in the ground at 75 Queen Street in Orillia Sunday afternoon, which brought the Building Hope project even closer to reality.
Building Hope will be a community hub with a 40 bed emergency shelter for men, women, youth and families experiencing homelessness, as well as providing supportive and affordable housing units, along with primary care, mental health and addiction services.
The first phase of the project is 20 supporting housing units, which should be constructed in 18 months.
Currently, the Lighthouse operates a soup kitchen and provides shelter beds for men on Peter Street South.
The soup kitchen is available to anyone who needs a meal.
(Facebook photo courtesty Clayton A. Johnson)
