An open letter to those who can or have funded Metroworks

 

By Kendall Worth!

Dear Whom this may concern;

 I am writing today’s letter because it saddened my community to learn that on March 6^th, 2025 Metro Works filed for bankruptcy, and programs plus Social Enterprises shut down as a result.  

 

 

I would like to start by introducing myself and my blog. My name is Kendall Worth and I have been a poverty advocate in Halifax Nova Scotia for years. My advocacy includes advocating for:

• People living with both mental and physical disabilities.

• People living on next to nothing, due to living in poverty.

• People trying everything they can to get back on their feet after they have spent time living in poverty.

• Advocating for a better system of the Employment Support and Income Assistance through the (now called) Department of Opportunities and Social Development.

• Advocating for a better mental health system in Nova Scotia.

• Advocating for Guaranteed Annual Income.

On my blog, you will find that the people I advocate for includes people who have benefited from the services and programs offered through Metroworks. I have been asked by a few members of the community I advocate for, to write this open letter.

 For more on the Closure of Metroworks see:

 

https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/labour/employment-agency-metroworks-files-for-bankruptcy-closes-operations/ 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-non-profit-organization-shuts-its-doors-1.7477850

https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nova-scotia/article/ns-non-profit-metroworks-declares-bankruptcy-after-48-years-cafes-close/ 

I want to be clear, that I have had no conversations with any of the direct management or staff of Metroworks prior to writing this letter. Participants from my community who attended Metroworks programs, has had nothing but positive things to say about the organization. In addition, the Stoneharth Bakery, owned by Metroworks, products are going to be missed by people in Halifax. Metroworks also owned two Cafes which were located in the Halifax Central Library and Keshen  Goodman Library. People use to love going to those cafes for coffee and they are going to missed by their costumers.

As part of improving the mental health system I advocate for, I include advocating for solutions for social isolation. A few people I talked to in my community recently have told me that through accessing the programs at Metroworks, they found opportunity to have another avenue to socialize with others., besides depending on the Soup-kitchens for socializing. People who I have been in touch with who identified themselves to me as past program Participants, have reported to me that during thier short-lived time at Metroworks, they actually felt like they had purpose in life. They described the work experince training they received through Metroworks being everything from: 

• Office Work  
• Customer Service work   
• Handling money   
• working at a Bakery  
• Cooking and Cleaning  
• life skills

 Also some report that occasionally Metroworks played a part in helping some income assistance recipients move forward to get off the system, and get themselves into a better situation. Sources tell me that the training opportunists offered through Metroworks was a great work experience for moving forward in life. Also some people who have benefited from Metroworks who also live life having lack of Social Contacts in their personal lives, tell me that their have been success stories where People have made new friends who they Socialize with through attending the Metroworks programs.

Lets hope a new organization with the same mandate as Metroworks will come to replace this lost organization, that so many got a benefit from.

Yours Truly;

Kendall Worth!