Sscope, residents on the brink of losing home

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This article was published 16/12/2021 (1107 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The window is closing for Sscope, and that means the doors of the non-profit organization may soon be closing, too.

The organization assists people living with mental illness by providing them work in one of their social enterprises and by offering safe and stable housing. Its name is an acronym for ‘Self-Starting Creative Opportunities for People in Employment.’

There are 46 people who live in dorm-style housing in the former Neechi Foods building at 865 Main St., and another 40 who use Sscope’s overnight shelter.

But after the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation denied the organization’s Rapid Housing Initiative funding request, Sscope has asked for $500,000 from each of the three levels of government to put a down payment on the building, which it has been leasing. If it does not receive the money by Jan. 6, the organization will have to move.

Frank Ribaric is one of the 46 who lives and works at the Sscope building.

“I’m pretty upset about it, because there’s a big need for it,” he said. “There’s stuff that Sscope can offer to the community and a lot of people that cannot get that anywhere else in the city.”

Ribaric said that the lack of support for the organization that has given him work and shelter is demoralizing for himself and others.

“It’s just going a step backwards completely. People are going to believe that there’s nothing in the community that can help us, and they’re going to turn to the sour end of their lives and do stupid things and not have any hope,” Ribaric said.

Ribaric, who can often be spotted fixing bikes in Sscope’s repair shop or working in the kitchen, said he’d not only like to see Sscope retain the building, he’d like to see other organizations follow its lead.

“Hopefully, if this place does stay open and get to stay here, they can show examples to other groups and other companies, and maybe it’ll open a whole new door for everybody,” he said. “Because no one really looks at mental health in different ways. There’s a lot of talk about it, but no one is doing anything about it … I just want to contribute to my community.”

Angela McCaughin, executive director of Sscope, didn’t mince words about the lack of government support.

“No level of government cares about the most marginalized, vulnerable people,” she said.

Manitoba families minister Rochelle Squires has said the government would be pleased to support the organization through the provincial employment and income assistance program, but McCaughin scoffed at that response.

“Give me a break,” she said. “You pay their rent. That doesn’t fund us. And that doesn’t cover our costs … it’s just political speak. You don’t fund us.”

Rent for each resident is $589 per month, which covers food and utilities. Rent for the building has been $16,000 per month, not including utilities, McCaughin said.

She said the organization’s lease was a special deal, as the current building owners had not intended to lease the building, which is why the organization must now
find cash for a down payment.