On Monday, Men are Part of the Solution, or MAPS, held their AGM in the multi-purpose room at the TRCC.

Oswald Sawh, President of the group, spoke about the organization’s tenuous beginnings, when funding was nearly non-existent.

Now, 24 years later, Sawh says MAPS receives funding from provincial and federal sources and their services have expanded significantly.

Today, MAPS has a number of programs, including their very successful men’s and women’s transitional houses - Phoenix House for Men, which opened in 2013, and Phoenix House for Women, opened in 2021.

Since its inception, the Phoenix House for Men has housed 185 men, with 166 or 88 per cent having meaningful outcomes.

The Phoenix House for Women has housed 42 tenants, with 33 or 79 per cent successfully meeting their goals.

The approach of MAPS, according to Sawh, is that - quote - “we are here to help you if you are willing to help yourself.”