Siloam Mission asks city for millions to help it expand

Winnipeg's downtown shelter asked the city for $4 million Friday to allow it to move ahead with some ambitious expansion plans. 

Siloam CEO Floyd Perras told city officials altogether the project will cost more than $30 million.

He said the plans include two new structures: one a four-storey building for administrative services and a nine-storey complex of apartment-like units. 

"We're looking to add 160 units of housing for people that have experienced homelessness or are at risk of experiencing homelessness, as well as to expand our front line services centre," he said.

Perras said the expansion means people will not have to wait outside while lining up for food or other services at the Mission.

"We're very excited about it," Perras said. "What we do want to provide is a place where people don't have to stand out in the cold."

Perras said the shelter hopes some of the funding will come from the province, but that the shelter also plans to fundraise from the private sector and private citizens.

He said he is already in talks with the province about the project.

The shelter has been quietly buying land around its Princess Street location for years in anticipation of the expansion.