New mutual aid centre in Timmins offers safe community

DIY Community Health Timmins transformed a former shop into a mutual aid site. The community-built centre offers showers, laundry, meals and a safe space.

In the past couple of years, DIY Community Health Timmins has been working to create a mutual aid site in a location that was once a place where people went to bottle wine.

Renovations of the site included shower and laundry facilities, as well as a kitchen, living room and offices.

Jason Sereda, who’s overseen the transformation with his team of volunteers, said he’s proud to say it’s community built.

“Businesses, local people coming together not only to provide sponsorships and funding (to) buy the things that we need, but also do the renovations, do the plumbing, install the HVAC -- all of that was done by the community and through sponsorships,” Sereda said.

Open Monday to Friday

“Not to say we don’t want funding … we’re definitely looking for that support from different levels of government.”

Open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday, Sereda said DIY is a place where people can feel safe while they get cleaned up and access food.

Ericson Dmello said he drops in to do laundry and eat.

“They have free Wi-Fi, and it’s a very good space,” Dmello said.

“You can chill out watching TV and if you’re feeling bored and all, you can have a chat with them.”

Artistic transformation

The mutual aid site has also undergone an artistic transformation.

“I think we were lucky that we had Mique (Michelle) available to help, do this work for us, but it really just felt like it feeds into the intent of the space, which is, you know, a bright, warming, welcoming atmosphere,” said Sereda.

Sereda hopes to eventually extend operating hours to include evenings and weekends.

Beginning in October, a partnership with the Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres will launch to provide a weekly clinic and outreach.