Shekinah House Launceston facing closure after landlord notice
There exists a rapidly closing door to survival for a vital service, which has been rocked by unexpected news. Their clients are yet to know the scale of the problem, which may yet be averted.
Launceston
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A vital northern Tasmanian homeless charity which provides among other services showers, laundry and a food pantry for clients is facing oblivion, after receiving its 30-day notice from the landlord.
The president of Shekinah House Inc, Louise Cowan, said it had been a rough year for her organisation, which has existed in Launceston CBD for the best part of a decade.
Shekinah House is currently in the process of vacating its digs at 24 Wellington St, where it has been located since the middle of this year.
“When we moved here, we had nowhere else to go,” Ms Cowan said.
“We had been looking for six months or more. The people who owned it at the time were very kind and allowed us to move in month-by-month.
“They sold it two days after we signed a lease. Now the new owners have given us notice.”
Ms Cowan said, while she did receive an indication she would have until early next year at least to find a new home, she bears no bitterness towards the new owners – “plans have changed,” she said.
Her focus, now, is on how to keep the good ship Shekinah afloat, with the charity set to be homeless by approximately November 20.
A 50 per cent off sale in its Shop 4 Hope op-shop, which will close at the end of this week, is under way. Ms Cowan is urgently trying to source a warehouse to store stock which doesn’t sell.
The shower, laundry and food pantry will close at the end of next week.
Ms Cowan is now desperately trying to find a place to move her vital service to for a third time this year.
Shekinah House was located at 145 Wellington St until July, when they were forced to relocate a first time due to the building’s owners wanting to develop the site. It’s understood a vehicle rental service and bicycle shop are now slated for there.
“The issue for us is the showers and laundry facility for clients, and food assistance,” she said.
“People need these facilities (in Launceston CBD), there’s not somewhere else to go,” she said.
“I doubt it, but if there was an empty, small house in town, that would be great as it already has a shower. There just doesn’t seem to be anything,” she said.
Ms Cowan said she hasn't yet told Shekinah’s clients about the scale of the charity’s woes.
“They’ve already got enough anxiety and stuff going on.”
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