Former London church turned tech office is transforming again
Built in the early 1880s, 602 Queens Avenue will open to vulnerable Londoners in August
A landmark London building is getting a makeover and a new purpose, helping some of the city's most vulnerable people connect with a variety of community services.
Historic 602 Queens Ave, most recently home to Info Tech on the corner of Adelaide Street, is opening next month as a hub that will have a soup kitchen, showers, laundry facilities, office space, housing help and HIV-AIDS supports.
It will be run collaboratively by London Cares, the Sisters of St. Joseph and Regional HIV-AIDS Connect, with room for additional partners.
"It's in a neighborhood that is adjacent to lots of marginalized folks that we're connected to," said Brian Lester, Executive Director at Regional HIV-AIDS Connect.
"It just made sense. It's a beautiful building that people can get to on a bus route or on foot. Accessibility to our services is key."
Lester describes a common space on the first floor which will be the new location for St. Joseph's Hospitality, currently located on Dundas Street. It will be closing in the coming days for a short period to facilitate the move to Queens Ave.
The need in London is significant, community organizers say, with the cost of living on the rise and more people struggling. Last week, St. Joseph's Hospitality said it was serving approximately 500 meals every day, including to some 40 children.
Addiction issues are also harming people in London, fuelled by powerful opioids and fentanyl, leading to major medical and social concerns.
Lester hopes by having HIV-AIDS Connect directly above the dining room, people who need testing or counselling will be more inclined to use the service, or might discover it for the first time.
"I think there are people who aren't really familiar with what we do because there is not common wraparound support. With the activity on the main floor, we hope to create that and meet them," Lester said.
The organizations have a 10-year lease on the building, and have spent months renovating, including installing an elevator.
The doors open in mid-August with the hope that other groups, potentially a medical clinic, will move into the community hub in the future.