Carmichael Outreach closer to building reno
New partner Mosaic provides $100,000 to ‘get the ball rolling’ on larger facility
Carmichael Outreach has found a new partner in Mosaic to the tune of $100,000.
With a total need of $450,000 to renovate the organization’s new building, Carmichael, which provides services to people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness, has seen financial struggles push back the renovation and move-in dates again and again.
Now, with Mosaic’s strong support announced Friday, Carmichael is hoping that will change.
“It’s really exciting because we’ve put a lot of focus into trying to make sure that we had real partners on this project,” said Rochelle Berenyi, communications, advocacy and projects officer for Carmichael.
“We’ve been talking about raising funds for a while, but to us this is more than a fundraising project,” she said, explaining that the partnership with Mosaic means they can “really get the ball rolling on the project.”
“It’s going to mean that our vision for the future can really start to become a reality.”
The fundraising journey isn’t over for Carmichael.
Berenyi said that with Mosaic’s partnership and a few others coming down the pipe, they are closing in on a third of the money needed for renovations.
But Carmichael’s long-term sights are set even higher.
“Our goal is to eventually raise $1 million — that’s to get us into the space and get the mortgage paid off
Anyone that’s been in our old building knows just how small and cramped it was. Anytime you try to turn around you’re bumping into someone else...
and begin investing in our future,” she said.
The new building, located at 1510 12th Ave., comes with much more space and the chance to expand services. “Anyone that’s been in our old building knows just how small and cramped it was. Anytime you try to turn around you’re bumping into someone else and it just wasn’t realistic,” said Berenyi.
“In this space, we’ll be able to help not just the people that we’ve already been helping, but more people.” Carmichael also plans to use the larger space to help out other organizations that could use a little more room from time to time.
With this boost in funds, Carmichael is looking to get renovations started quickly.
“We’re working on getting our tenders out for the project, as well as getting a construction mortgage so that we can get things going even while we fundraise,” she said.
“As far as I know, the tenders should be going out some time this month, fingers crossed because there’s always roadblocks, but once those go out the balls will roll a little bit more. The tenders go out, the bids come back, we can start the work.”
Carmichael is hoping to move into the new building by next January.