The 40 residents of Brantford’s Rosewood House who were displaced by a kitchen fire last month will soon get to return home.
It’s been nearly six weeks since Brantford’s largest homeless shelter closed its doors after a fire broke out in one of its commercial gas stoves.
Those who call it home have been temporarily staying in motels throughout the County of Brant, something Tim Philp, the director of Rosewood House, calls a difficult but necessary task.
“We had an accidental fire, just finished dinner, lights were turned off doors locked — within 30 seconds a fire started at the stove,” Philp said. “Within two minutes, [it] consumed the kitchen.”
Phelps says work to repair the shelter began the following day. “We’ve had the entire building cleaned, repainted, ducts cleaned, and a new furnace installed,” he adds.
Currently, the plan is to have all 40 residents return next Friday.
“The cooperation between all the agencies in town,” Philp said, commending the outpouring of support from the Brant County community. “It wasn’t a question of maybe we can provide this or that, it was ‘What do you need?’ We’ll work out the details later.’
He says that the city, SOAR and the Salvation Army were a great help throughout the entire ordeal.
Officials estimate that the fire caused roughly $150,000 in damages and the kitchen will require more work before it can return to service
In the meantime, the Salvation Army will continue to provide meals for those who live there.
