03/10/2021
Hi Everyone,
I am posting this very important message today because our city and less fortunate are at risk and need our help. The Sara Burns Forever Fund has recently been working with Dr Sara Davidson and the Phoenix Learning center in order to help with a growing issue in our community. I would respectfully ask that you take a few minutes to read the message below and consider supporting the center via letters of support to our City and Council The time is now to act on this and I hope you will join the effort. Below are the details.
A message from Dr Sara Davidson....
As you may be aware I have been involved in helping create the only drop in centre, known as Phoenix Learning Centre, for the people who are experiencing homelessness in Fredericton, so they can have a place to sit down, to warm up, and to feel welcomed. It is located on Woodstock Rd across from the Delta Hotel. Our long-term goal is to add a second floor and provide nine units of supported housing for people with complex mental health needs. In addition, this centre will grow and be renamed the Sara Burns Community Outreach Centre and become a place for socially marginalized people to engage in workshops, capacity-building opportunities, volunteerism opportunities, and educational upgrading to further support stability. This is to honour the work Sara Burns gave to this vulnerable community as a police officer, and for the generous support of her husband, Steven Burns. Phoenix Learning Centre will reside within still, focusing on providing the workshops and learning opportunities. Please see the attached letter for details of the work done and the impact we have had so far.
In order to continue we have to undergo a zoning amendment. While we have a number of people in the local community who volunteer, support, and provide delicious baking on a regular basis, we are also being met with considerable resistance from some of the neighbours. We have listened to concerns they have and addressed them to our best ability (see the attached letter for details). However Covid-19 has essentially made the challenges of homelessness much more visible to all, as there is literally nowhere for people to go. We continue to advocate for and work towards more mental health services, more housing, and for ways to support socially isolated people to have places they are welcomed.
Please share your support for Phoenix Learning Centre re-zoning and the birth of the Sara Burns Community Outreach Centre. The letter attached gives more detail, but in short please write a letter of support, and email it to [email protected] before 4:00 pm on March 17th, 2021. Participate in the PAC meeting virtually by contacting [email protected] before 4:00 pm on March 17th, 2021, to receive instructions on how to join. Please read the attached letter for further details.
Thank you for helping us work towards creating a safe space with purpose and honouring the name of Constable Sara Burns. Please share this request with your contacts widely.
Dr. Sara Davidson
