A second Welcoming Streets Steward is coming to Downtown Belleville.
In November, city council awarded the Downtown District Business Improvement Area $140,000 to support and expand the Welcoming Streets program in 2023.
Nik McEwen joins Program Coordinator Sara Behring and will create relationships with vulnerable people and act as a bridge between local business owners and vulnerable individuals.
Luisa Sorrentino, Executive Director of the BIA says they continue to work with community service agencies to not only improve lives, but to elevate the profile of the Downtown District and change the perception of safety .
McEwen, who has a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioural Psychology from St.Lawrence College and has experience as a Housing-Based Case Manager, returns to his hometown after living in Ottawa for four years.
The BIA says there has been a demand for a Steward to be available on weekends so he will be working Tuesday to Saturday.
The award-winning program began in June 2021.
