The Dryden Mission is looking to set up a men's shelter because there is no existing shelter for men in the area.

Pastor Jim Shearer said the group is currently fundraising to accomplish its goal.

“The need has been so great here in northwestern Ontario and, when we put people up in a motel overnight, each year [the number of people] increases,” he said.

“This year already we've exceeded what we did last year.”

Shearer said there are several apartments above the existing mission that would be renovated to accommodate the shelter. The group will also have to hire staff to run it.

He noted clients would have to volunteer at the mission, and take steps to help themselves. Clients will be expected to find a job, and will be given assistance in doing so.

“The length of time at the shelter that we want to propose is six weeks,” Shearer said.

“We really believe that, within those six weeks, we can see somebody come to a point that they need to make a decision. We really want to help that individual attempt to get stable.”

Shearer said the mission would also help with legal issues, and even try to reconcile people with their families if necessary. For some clients, it will be a weighty task.

"[It’s] going to take a lot of work to try to get them to look at a different way of living,” he added.

The mission has launched a "massive" fundraising campaign to get the shelter up. Shearer said he doesn't know if other funding will come forward — and he isn’t expecting any.

Shearer said he hopes to have the shelter up and running by the end of the year.