Over the past year, Just Working Construction completed a major project at 44-54 Queen Street South. They designed and constructed twenty-one apartment units in downtown Kitchener. The project is part of The Working Centre’s intensive efforts over three decades to create emergency shelters and housing. These apartment units have been built to provide safe, affordable housing for women, including new immigrants and single mothers. These women are refugees or recent immigrants to Canada. Some have experienced the trauma of forced dislocation or of marriage breakdown. Many were in housing situations that were unsafe, unstable, or unsuitable.
Photo credit: Douglas MacLellan ©
Jeff’s early connection with The Working Centre
When Jeff Van Gyssel turned his heart over to God at the age of nineteen, he wanted everyone to experience God’s love like he had. He was especially concerned for those who were struggling with drug and alcohol addiction like he had. It was while he was volunteering with Ray of Hope that he first met Joe Mancini. Joe became a mentor for him during those early years.
Joe and Stephanie Mancini founded the Working Centre in 1982 to serve the homeless and unemployed in downtown Kitchener. In the four decades since, they have created a vibrant community of donors, volunteers, and a lean administrative staff. This community has opened itself up to include those it serves in unique and creative ways.
One of The Working Centre’s first projects was St. John’s Kitchen. St. John’s Kitchen was founded with a deep commitment to honour the street culture of the people they served. It nurtured people “to be fully themselves within the irreplaceable supports of their own culture and community.” It was this welcoming approach that had attracted Jeff even while he was still a young drug addict.
Laying the groundwork: Jeff and his team establish credibility with The Working Centre
From 1995 to 2015, The Working Centre developed several small housing projects which welcomed a total of seventy tenants. In 2016, they constructed four bachelor apartments above their Fresh Grounds café at 256 King Street East. An architect already associated with the project realized they needed backdoor access to the basement of the building. Jeff had come around to help, and he explained his idea to solve the problem. Joe liked his enthusiasm and brought him on to do the work.
Joe asked Jeff to construct a two-story backyard home adjacent to their personal residence. After seeing his excellent work, he asked Jeff and his company to build an addition for the 115 Water Street project. The Working Centre was renovating this century home to serve as a residential community for men struggling with addiction. It would provide a relationship-based approach to mental health including harm reduction and medical support.
The Queen Street Project for Creating Affordable Housing for Women
In 2021, an opportunity arose for The Working Centre to serve young women and single mothers from the immigrant community. Their storefront at 58 Queen Street South served as their Job Search Resource Centre. The two upper floors were used for their bookkeeping and publications offices. In 2020, during the pandemic, they decided to create four bachelor apartments on the upstairs floors. David McLagan, chief estimator and project manager for JWC worked with former employer, Robert Dyck to create the plans. They were ready to submit these plans to the Region when a large federal grant was announced in 2021. In a divine coincidence, the building next to 58 Queen became available for sale during this time. These buildings had revenue-sustaining stores on the main floor and empty units on the upper two floors. Quickly, Robert Dyck and David modified the grant application to include the purchase and development of 44-54 Queen Street South. Seventeen apartment units would be created in addition to the four originally planned. The project was approved and David and the JWC team undertook the year-long project.
All three buildings had originally been built by Adam Bricker between 1898 and 1920. They were known as the Bricker Block. The proposal to create affordable housing for women who are immigrants at this location was accepted and the property was purchased. Now these three historic buildings were united in a single purpose. They would serve new immigrants to the Waterloo Region.
Photo credit: Douglas MacLellan ©
Anticipating a vibrant community for single immigrant women and their children
The Working Centre reached out to several organizations that serve immigrant women and their families. These included women’s crisis shelters, Reception House, Open Homes and Muslim Social Services, and Lutherwood Housing. Within two weeks they had thirty referrals. For Joe Mancini, this was a confirmation that there was a profound need for this newly created affordable housing for women and their children in the area.
Joe anticipates a strong community growing up around the Queen Street neighbourhood. He talks with enthusiasm about the support and connections that will be available to these women there. In addition to the Job Resource Centre, there is Maurita’s Kitchen and the Queen Street Commons Café nearby. They provide many opportunities for community building, including a Speak English Café on Thursday Nights at the Commons Café.
Photo credit: Douglas MacLellan ©
A satisfying moment for the Just Working team
Dave McLagan and the Just Working team have seen this project through from design and permit acquisition to construction. He confesses that there were times when the project was stressful, especially during the permit process. But for him, the project has been a rewarding one. “It’s always nice to finally see everything come together,” he explains.
Calvin Douma, the site supervisor for the project, agrees. He stresses that the Just Working team members are all very focused on the job at hand. But, he says, “All our people love working to build purposeful housing, purposeful spaces. It’s always nice to be part of something that’s going to uplift the community.” Calvin and the others on the team are happy to know that single immigrant mothers will be enjoying these apartments in the days ahead. They will come to work knowing that “there will be a little more meaning to what they do.”
From left, David McLagan of Just Working Construction, Joe Mancini of The Working Centre, and Calvin Douma of Just Working Construction