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By 'Editor, LDSCaNews'
Businessman Turns to Homeless
VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA -- John Volken, a member of the Vancouver BC
Stake, knows how to do business. He overturned furniture sales
techniques by offering warehouse locations with no showroom extras,
commission-based sales staff, and purchasing direct from
manufacturers.
Now the prominent businessman who presides over 150 franchises of
United Furniture Warehouse throughout Western Canada, and four US
States is going from selling mattresses to providing mattresses.
Volken has a deep concern or the homeless youth and those involved in
the drug culture. This concern has sprouted a 23-million dollar
complex called "Welcome Home" - a 130-bed, five-story housing
facility for such people.
The complex, which takes up an entire city-block in Vancouver's
notorious East Side where other shelters send away 200 people each
month, will start construction by 2002 on a lot valued at 2.6-million
dollars, and will give residents a chance to stay for 30 months as
long as they stay away from all drugs and alcohol. They will also
receive job training.
In addition to the six million dollars contributed by his foundation,
two per cent of all sales from his franchises will go toward the
project. Volken will also be lobbying corporations and individuals to
help raise another five million dollars.
Volken, who is strong in his faith and credits his beliefs for
prompting him to do this, will insist that those staying at Welcome
Home say blessing on their meals and receive spiritual counsel.
"We're going to introduce them to it, but the focus will be on love
and forgiveness," says Volken. "That's probably not politically
correct, but I don't care. A lot of what is politically correct
doesn't work."
Source:
Vancouver Sun, 28 Feb 2001
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