The Portage Community Revitalization Corporation is eager to be leading the charge when it comes to tackling the city's homelessness problem.

Rest-a-Bit's homeless shelter will now mould into an entity of the PCRC beginning Monday and board member Miriam Turyamwijuka explains the rationale behind the changing of the guard.

"We were quite exhausted after the winter because we were all volunteers, and it's not something to take lightly," notes Turyamwijuka. "So, that was one way that they (PCRC) were able to help. And from there, it seemed that this was the best way to keep it going with COVID-19 and everything else."

The PCRC helped secure $85,000 worth of funding during the pandemic so the shelter could still operate and help those in need. Victoria Espey, the organization's executive director, says once the PCRC is in charge, they will take steps to expand the service.

"(We're going to be) looking at the policies and procedures and making sure that we have got all of our bases covered. (We're) also looking for long-term, sustainable funding," says Espey. "I know the community has been very generous with supporting the shelter, and we certainly hope that continues through us because we will need the community's support to keep operations going. Then we will be looking for a permanent home for the shelter."

The shelter will bode well with other services the PCRC offers, such as Wawokiya and the Reaching Home Program. Turyamwijuka says it was incredible to see the operation built from a concept up to where it is today.

"Our top priority from the beginning was to get a shelter going," says Turyamwijuka. "Any donations we received, we wanted to respect people's hearts and desires to help the homeless and the shelter. So that (donations that went) towards the shelter... will stay with the shelter."

Rest-a-Bit's current executive director will make the switch to working for the PCRC, and the board will remain intact. Espey commends the Rest-A-Bit group for all of their service.

"They brought awareness to an issue that was not being looked at," says Espey. "Portage did not have a homeless shelter, and now that we're a couple of years into having one, I can't imagine Portage not having one because it's such a well-utilized resource."