Montreal throws support behind Sun Youth's move to new building

Montreal announced Wednesday that it will be financially supporting Sun Youth Organization'smove to a new location this fall.

The city has committed $1.145 million to cover its rentuntil2021.

"The City of Montreal has been one of our biggest partners forclose to 65 years now, from the very start," said Ernest Rosa, Sun Youth's property manager, in a phone interview.

"This is just the city showing again how important it is for them to support organizations like Sun Youth in their fight against poverty."

Sun Youth hasbeen leasing the former Baron ByngHigh School from Montreal's French-language school board, the Commission scolaire de Montral (CSDM), with the city covering the rent there.

The school board is taking back the building to houseits growing student population.

Sun Youth has found a new home base at 6700 Parc Avenue, a few kilometres north of its current downtown location on St-Urbain Street.

Along with covering therent on its new location, the cityhas offered Sun Youthrent-free another building thathoused the organization in the past.

Located at the corner of Mont-Royal and Parc avenues, andnicknamed "the White House," Sun Youth was located there from 1967 to 1981 beforemoving to the St-Urbainlocation.

The city will pay about $25,000 to renovate the building forsenior and youth activities.

Sun Youth is in a transitional phase, Rosa said, and needs enough space to offer its wide range of services such as sports programming and food distribution.

In addition tothe Parc Avenue location, the organization will establish various satellite locations while it searches for a long-term solution, he said.

In a press release issued by the city's executive committee,Rosannie Filato, Montreal's manager forsocial and community development, describes Sun Youth as a "tireless organization" that provides front-line support to families, children and individuals.

"The City of Montreal will continue to be a key ally for the organization in support of its mission," said Filato, a VilleraySaint-MichelParc-Extensionborough councillor.