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Gilbert Vielfaure, executive director of Centre Flavie-Laurent, said the charity is one step closer to acquiring a new building.

A crowded St. Boniface charity is one step closer to securing a new home, with the promise of more space to serve its growing client base.

Centre Flavie-Laurent, which provides donated clothing, furniture and appliances to low-income families, received approval earlier this month from the city to rezone a building that has been conditionally purchased by Dorais Charities  —  a non-profit arm of the Catholic Health Corporation of Manitoba, the umbrella organization for a number of faith-based groups, including Flavie-Laurent.

The new building at 450 Provencher Blvd. — near Archibald Street — will be shared with the Youth Addictions Stabilization Unit run by Marymound. another organization under the CHCM umbrella.

The stabilization unit is a short-term residential facility for children aged 12 to 17 who are struggling with addictions.

On Feb. 6, the Riel community committee — consisting of councillors Dan Vandal (St. Boniface), Brian Mayes (St. Vital), and Justin Swandel (St. Norbert) — approved rezoning the property from industrial to commercial, and granted a five-year variance to allow the establishment of the rehabilitation house until the rezoning takes effect.

"Centre Flavie do tremendous work for our citizens and our city. They provide invaluable service for families in need. It was a pleasure to support their move," said Vandal.

Flavie-Laurent’s executive director, Gilbert Vielfaure, said the rezoning brings the project one step closer to fruition.

Marymound is awaiting verification of future funding from the provincial government, he said, which must be confirmed before any further action can be taken.

Still, Vielfaure said, with the rezoning approved, the project’s likelihood of becoming a reality is 95% certain.

"It’s another step forward," he said, adding he, staff and volunteers are trying not to get ahead of themselves.

"You don’t want to get too over-zealous."

Vielfaure said the centre’s building has been increasingly cramped as both its numbers of clients and supporters continue to grow.

The charity currently has more than 16,000 clients — up from just under 3,000 in 2006 — with an additional 200 to 300 families registering each month.

Vielfaure noted that donations — which normally drop off during the winter — are particularly slow this year, adding that has placed additional stress on the centre’s services.

 To learn more about Centre Flavie-Laurent or to donate items, visit cflc.info or call 233-4936.

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