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allinlanding

The Challenge: Moving Around

Over the last ten years, iHuman has been bounced around through a series of loaned and rented premises, once being homeless for four months. We have been at the mercy of Edmonton’s very active real estate development market. Consistency is a priority when working with youth that have trust and abandonment issues; each move challenges our ability to provide dependable and consistent programs and services. Every time we move we lose many of our youth who can’t or won’t move with us.

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Solution: A Permanent Home

As part of our ongoing strategic and operational planning, iHuman identified that securing a permanent home will allow us to both deliver our essential services with more continuity and stability for our clientele, as well establishing expanded capacity to serve Edmonton’s predicted growing high risk youth population in the future.

All-In-new-building

A Home for Youth, A Place for Art” permanent facility project will allow for multi-arts programming, offices and interview space for our outreach staff and a much needed supportive housing component for youth. We also wish to incorporate additional space for community partners to encourage deeper collaboration between iHuman and other youth serving agencies.

iHuman has been able to take a major first step toward making our dream for a permanent home a reality. In May, 2012 we made a down payment to purchase a derelict warehouse on 102A Street. With 22,000 sq ft over two floors, it offers ample space for current and projected programming needs.

    Renovate. Stabilize. Build Capacity.

    The diversity of our programming requires specialized renovations that will include:

  • Studio space for visual art forms, music, theatre, drama, fashion, culinary arts and other art forms.

  • Education and tutor/study space.

  • Community circle space.

  • Flex areas for fitness and wellness activities that fit with the arts, such as dance and performance.

  • A kitchen for nutritional programming, culinary arts and to provide nutritious meals for the youth and/or their children during program hours.

  • Clinic space where professionals can deliver counseling; sexual health, general health, and dental health programs, as well as legal counseling and support.

  • Retail and exhibit space where iHuman youth can develop business and customer service skills through the sale of their creations. This area would also be used to exhibit iHuman art shows or launch public art exhibits with community partners.

  • A small ‘artist in residence’ studio space where artists can share their expertise and passion

  • A community garden.

  • A housing component to address current gaps in the marketplace for sheltering high-risk youth and their children.

  • Equipment, such as silkscreen presses, kitchen facilities, commercial grade computers and printers, a passenger/cargo van, furnishings for the housing component.

  • The facility will also be configured to generate revenue by renting space to other agencies and for-profit entities such as art galleries.