The Balmoral looks at first glance like it always has - a bit rough - like a good horse that has been rode hard and put away wet. Looking closer I found shiny new bits, signs of love and life - a new set of stairs here, another at the side, a heat pump unit, metal doors, some gardens & landscaping. Inside the 19 rooms have been renovated. All but 2 are occupied with 15 men & 2 women. I saw the 2 empty rooms. Rent is $400 for a modest sized bedroom with a closet & window. There is a sink and heat is provided. Tenants can have cable or a telephone at their own expense. A microwave, bar fridge, electric frypan is permited but not a hot plate or toaster oven- lessons learned by too many fire department call outs.
The building has a sprinkler system, a video camera system with at least 9 cameras with motion detectors & recording features. The doors have alarms and monitoring connections. The old restaurant part of the hotel operates part time making & freezing meals for those in need. There are offices & meeting areas for the Canadian Mental Health staff that operate the facility. I met a dozen staff from Outreach to Accounting this morning.
The facility has people there that have been there for 5 years. There have been evictions in Kevans time and others who move on their own. There are rules. Perhaps the only thing out of place for me was a needle drop box in a washroom.
The place is tidy. There are several ongoing painting & fixing projects underway.
I only saw one resident, he was on his way in with a bed roll under his arm. I thought the same thing Kevan said - "sleep out last night John?" "No" he said, "summer is over, just bringing in my feathers (comforter)"
The Balmoral may be an old horse, but it is still running hard and pulling a good weight.
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