Main Street Project looking ahead following Manwin Hotel fire

It’s been six days since a fire ripped through the Manwin Hotel. The neighbouring Main Street Project was forced to evacuate and scatter roughly 150 people, and the building itself sustained limited damage; its doors are back open.

“It was a good response; the community stepped up and helped. MSP did a fabulous job of getting everyone sheltered. The city helped with the buses, which was great. But it’s the same situation as usual. We need more housing, is what it comes down to,” said Cory Fillion, a nearby resident.

More housing is exactly what the executive director of the Main Street Project, Jamil Mahmood, is hoping to replace the Manwin lot.

“We’d love to see a high-density housing building. We have plans to build 150 units of housing above our shelter building. Something like a five or six-story 150-unit housing building would be amazing,” said Mahmood.

“You can see on the side of the building, like, you can see the imprints of where the windows of the Manwin were on the building. How hot it must have been to leave that imprint of the window on the side of the building.”

Mahmood said more housing would be a dream for MSP, as it potentially creates 300 units of housing. He also said it would go a long way in providing people experiencing poverty with much more dignity.

“Don’t look at us with pity or contempt. Or hatred or anger. Don’t be afraid of people who come down Main Street. We’re all regular people, too,” said Fillion.

Fillion was inside MSP when the fire broke out and was part of the evacuation, like Mahmood, he hopes more resources will replace the Manwin.

“Probably more facilities for not just a homeless shelter, but maybe counciling areas. We don’t need another access. It would be good if one of the organizations took it over,” said Fillion.

The biggest impact of the fire was the loss of food and clothing for the community. MSP is hoping to recoup its losses with its 50/50 draw that finishes at the end of the month.