Founder and director of The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation, Heather Cassie, and president of the Board, Brian Rasmussen, talked to Huntsville councillors about their vision for The Table Plaza.
They attended the Oct. 29 General Committee meeting and asked for the municipality’s support. “We have a shared goal for a thriving community in Huntsville. The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation seeks support, a financial partnership from the Town of Huntsville to develop our current properties into affordable housing, as well as developing The Table Plaza, a multi-purpose community hub addressing food insecurity, emergency shelter, and social wellbeing,” Rasmussen told councillors.
“The Table Plaza will expand and increase services to meet the community’s needs of connection while creating jobs, training and volunteer and cultural opportunities. This initiative contributes to the Town’s goal of balanced growth and addressing housing needs, health and wellness and economic development.”
Cassie told councillors The Table Soup Kitchen Foundation has been operating for 19 years, since it served its first Thanksgiving meal in 2006. She said food insecurity continues to rise across Muskoka and beyond. “There is an increased demand for affordable housing, our food bank access, and emergency support. Our facilities are definitely at full capacity, and our men’s hostel waitlist continues to grow.” She said she believed the waitlist was currently at 27 for a bed at the eight-bed men’s hostel the Foundation runs and said she continued to get calls every week.
“I would say two in ten people end up on our waitlist, and it’s definitely the toughest part of my job, to turn people away,” she said. “This is the time and perfect opportunity for the Town to take steps to partner with us to tackle homelessness, food insecurity, and affordable housing. We have a sustainable plan that we are implementing right now, and we invite you to join us.”
Cassie invited councillors who have not been for a tour of the old 31,000 square foot FreshCo site, to do so. She said the plan is to expand some of the Table’s current services and “we’ll be creating some new ministries. The Table Art Gallery and Hub, The Table Emporium, which will be groceries and more, The Table Cafe, hydroponic garden as an extension of our food garden, and a warming and cooling centre with 30 beds.”
Cassie also spoke about The Table’s properties at 99, 11, and 13 Hanes Street. She said the men’s shelter and community kitchen is located at 11 Hanes Street, which they would keep because it meets a need. “And we have the opportunity to actually develop 9 and 12 Hanes Street. Our building could be torn down and we could develop more storeys, according to whatever we’d be allowed to do, as well as at 13 Hanes Street,” she said. “So it would be right downtown, which would be quite amazing. We do have plans for a dorm-style affordable housing there, but if we could actually do affordable housing in partnership, that would be incredible.”
She said the warming and cooling centre would be at the plaza, and there is an opportunity to access 7000 square feet of space downtown to develop dorm-style housing. “It would take some cash, obviously, but it’s something that we’re definitely looking into. Together we believe that we can meet the deepest need by supporting those in crisis and transitioning people toward more stable housing,” she added.
She thanked architect Duncan Ross and staff for their help to develop the plan and showed council a floor plan for the old FreshCo site. “We’re excited that the left hand of the plaza is the sustainable piece where any member of the community can come in and shop by donation and receive tax receipts, and by doing so, they’re supporting everybody who is in need who is coming to the right side of the plaza.”
Rasmussen said there has been a lot of community help and miracles along the way. They said they have the wrap-around services needed and “we’re seeking partnership and financial support to create emergency shelter, transitional housing, social housing, and affordable rentals based on the Town’s desire to team up with non-profits, builders, and government agencies to create housing solutions and contribute to economic development,” said Cassie.
Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock said she had a tour of the site and called the plan inspirational.
Huntsville Councillor Bob Stone said housing and homelessness is under the purview of the District and asked if they had their support. Cassie said they’ve had some conversations with the District, but wanted to start with the Town and then go from there. She said she communicates with District staff on a regular basis, and they’re very aware of the need, and some have toured the property and are very excited. “We do not have an agreement with them at this time. We thought that we would start with our Town and have those conversations.” Cassie also said MP Scott Aitchison also had a tour of the plaza, and they’re very appreciative of his support. “He has indicated that he will come alongside us in helping us get federal funding, etc., so the conversation has started, but we felt like our Town is the place to start with.”
Stone also asked how religion plays into the development. “Well, we are a faith-based charity, so we give people the option if they’d like Christian counselling or if they’d like to be prayed with… we want to emulate the attributes of Christ. We want to be the hands of Christ and care for people as he did and meet their needs both physically and emotionally, spiritually, financially, and whatever help they need,” responded Rasmussen.
“And we certainly have never turned anybody away to come to The Table, whether it be as a guest, volunteer, or donor. I think for those of you who know us, we are just focusing on love, and being able to help those needs in a beautiful way,” said Cassie. “Everyone is welcome,” added Rasmussen.
Huntsville Councillor Helena Renwick said she too had been to the plaza. “It is an incredible sight to behold what you’re doing, and I certainly applaud what you’re doing.”
Renwick said if they’re asking for financial support from the Town, she would like to see numbers.” She also asked what percentage of their current funding went to staffing. Cassie said she did not have the number with her, but said their current staffing involves her, a full-time communications manager, and a part-time operations administrator who will be stepping down, and the position will become full-time. She said the Table has more than 300 volunteers and said she believes paid staff make up less than 13 per cent of the funding, but could provide council with those numbers. “We absolutely would love to know how we can continue the conversation with you and provide more information that you’re needing,” she said.
“If you’re asking for us to advocate or walk with you as you go through the process, it’s really useful for all of us to have that kind of information so we know what specifically the different asks are and how we can advocate for those asks,” said the Mayor. “This is the kind of information that we would find helpful.”
Renwick said it is important to get the District on side first because “their mandate is exactly what you’re doing… I think that conversation is really important and I’m very happy to hear that you’re working on that.”
Alcock said she understood why they would go to the Town first and noted that she chairs the District’s Community and Planning Services Committee, “and this is great because I know all about the proposal and I can already start to advocate on your behalf to have you do a presentation at the now joint Community and Planning Services and Health Committee at District Council,” she said.
Councillor Jason FitzGerald congratulated them on the significant endeavour and said, “I’m sure it’s going to have great impact in our community, and I will continue to support your efforts.”
The Foundation is having a fundraiser, ‘All in for The Table Plaza,’ on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Hidden Valley from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with games, entertainment, and food. You can find more information HERE.
You can view the presentation to the General Committee HERE (PDF).
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This is an amazing project. I think what is confusing people somewhat is the huge scale included in the vision. There is over 30,000 square feet that can and IMO will be scaled up over the next few (2-4?) years and it has the potential to be World Class in every way.
This is not pie in the sky stuff. I have helped https://www.thetablefoundation.ca/ a bit this past couple years and got to know some of the people involved. I toured the project a few weeks back and was quite blown away. Not only is the entire +30,000 sq.’ building planned out in detail, those involved have an open ear to adjust these plans along the way. Even though the Principles are Christian based I never ever sensed any judgement towards people who believe differently.
Here are some of the plans to be phased in as I understand it: emergency warming shelter, overnight sleeping for homeless includes individual cages for pets, food service including free meals plus a coffee shop open to the public, library & art centre, free clothing/household items, counselling, and more. Security has been thought out and I think is still evolving.
There has already been substantial+++ donations in both cash and volunteer work by local/regional trades businesses and even people like Eric Sprott are onside and have helped. No taxpayer money has yet been involved or requested and if there is in the future my guess is there will be more in savings due to stresses being removed from current social services.
Paul Johnston, not sure where you are getting your information, but the Table Foundation is not a for-profit enterprise, it is a non-profit foundation.
Glen Cowling, i can’t speak for the Table, but the impression i got from the article was that this was an initial conversation to gauge whether or not town funding was even a feasible direction to work towards. It is common in business for deals to develop in an iterative process just like that: first the initial conversations happen to produce an agreement in principle or a memorandum of understanding; then the details and hard numbers are calculated in order to develop the final deal. In this case, the one counselor already noted that it is the District, not the town, which would have jurisdiction here, and the response was that they were “starting” with the town in order to build support for their proposal to the district.
Bottom line, it doesn’t sound to me like they were unorganised or unprepared as you seem to imply; rather, i think we’re jut seeing the normal uncertainty that characterises most projects during the initial stage.
Finally, i would encourage many commenters to think about this more constructively. The Table has identified a legitimate social problem in the community, and they are proposing ways to help fix it. You might disagree with the action they propose, that’s fine, people are free to disagree, but i would hope that instead of just sniping from sidelines you would also be stepping up to offer your own solutions instead.
Does anyone have an overview of what is happening there? Not me for sure, because every time one asks, something different is going on. For sure we need what is supposedly being offered, but it seems this is “Growing like Topsy”.
Like Glen Cowing, I wonder who goes asking for funding without a prospectus; a business plan; a financial outline. Certainly not a bank! Because this doesn’t sound like a ‘loaves and fishes’ project. This seems to be an inclusive scheme to help the needy. As Kathryn Henderson says, Lord knows it’s needed, but what are the plans for medical, mental and physical needs? For security? For maintenance? All for 24hrs. a day, 7 days a week. And everybody needs to be paid. A donation here and there won’t cut it.
Out our way we have a duplex in a field that was built in response to the needy. An allowance was made as “outside the box” thinking. The permit was in exchange for produce from a food basket garden which was to be operated on the farm. To my knowledge the Town got squat from that project. We do still have the rental duplex in the field.
I’m all for the success of this downtown project, but I’d like to see the town require proof that the thing is viable and going to fly before boarding the passengers. You can’t expect it to run on faith and good intentions..
Just an opinion.
This is so typical of organizations milking the taxpayers and our Mayor believes it is inspirational. First where is the Towns andd Districts plans. Secondly why did able Soup Kitchen Foundation not provide a detailed financial and operational plan before the started work at the old Freshco place. This foundation is a for profit group so why us taxpayers dollars. In addition we have otherfood banks that are working withe needy so the town needs to look at an integrated plan that supports those in need not for prfit organizations.
We certainly can’t wait for government to start helping the homeless and hungry even though Carney has promised to do more for this cause. He is too busy giving our tax dollars away. I certainly support getting the old fresco and more beds and food for our homeless and those in need of food. I would donate to this.
I think the original idea, to create a hostel for men would be best. Many men are homeless.
She has remarkable dreams. Maybe needs to slow down a little? Breathing space required?
Why would, someone who is asking for tax payers money, not come to the meeting with their own financial information?