The Working Centre

The Working Centre is a volunteer inspired venture that seeks to give individuals and groups access to tools and opportunities to become involved in the building of community.

The Psychiatric Outreach Project (POP) has been in operation for a year and a half, developing a model that bridges people who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness with accessible psychiatric supports. POP operates in an outreach model, building on the innovative concept of street outreach already present in downtown Kitchener-Waterloo. The program embeds medical psychiatric services in the places where people are most comfortable, locating medical professionals in the context of St. John’s Kitchen and other agencies. POP operates as a collaborative model, building relationships and links with other agencies, outreach workers and services to ensure a circle of support for the people it serves. This model ensures a strong preventative model of care that is rooted in supportive relationships, acting at all levels of the prevention strategies.

This project builds on all the existing partnerships and collaboration happening in downtown Kitchener-Waterloo. The primary role of POP is to integrate with existing service providers. These providers include Grand River Hospital, Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre, Canadian Mental Health Association, Waterloo Region Homes for Mental Health, Mary’s Place, House of Friendship, ROOF, Kitchener Downtown Community Collaborative. They are looking to establish connections with University faculties coming into the Kitchener downtown, including the School of Pharmacy (who have expressed an interest in building on this collaboration), and the School of Social Work.

The Foundation’s 3 year grant of $240,000 to the K-W Working Centre will be used towards the operating cost of the Psychiatric Outreach Project and explore long-term funding options.

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