Service Agency Funding to Improve Health and Safety, Reduce Community Impact of Homelessness
The SRD was successful in obtaining a Strengthening Communities’ Services grant for just over $1 million to support agencies delivering services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
August 13, 2021 – Campbell River, BC – The Strathcona Regional District was successful in obtaining a Strengthening Communities’ Services grant for just over $1 million to support agencies delivering services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in the visibility and amount of unsheltered homelessness as well as a rise in related community health and safety challenges. The federally and provincially funded 2021 Strengthening Communities’ Services program was developed to improve the health and safety of unsheltered people, reduce related community impacts, improve service coordination, and increase local capacity for service delivery.
A collaborative working group spearheaded by the Campbell River and District Coalition to End Homelessness and in partnership with the City of Campbell River and the Strathcona Regional District submitted an application to the program to support the initiatives surrounding homelessness through existing service delivery agencies.
Funds from the grant will be primarily focused in Campbell River to provide:
- Enhanced security and early-morning clean-up in partnership with the Downtown Business Improvement Association
- Expanded addiction outreach, peer support and volunteer clean-up efforts
- Meals, laundry, showers and other support services through Hama?Elas Community Kitchen, Kwesa Place
- Additional local and regional resources for service coordination related to urban Indigenous populations, homelessness, justice system navigation and food security services
- Training for staff and volunteers related to homelessness, cultural awareness, and humility
- Pandemic-related personal protective equipment, and medical, hygiene, cleaning, and harm reduction supplies
A portion of the funds will also support creating mobile outreach services in Gold River and Tahsis.
“The Province has recognized the additional strain the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on communities, and that government and service agencies have been stretched well beyond our means to meet the demand for services and the need to alleviate increasing poverty, and mental health and addiction issues that can contribute to homelessness,” said Mayor Andy Adams. “This funding will increase our capacity to address local and regional challenges and to improve the health and safety of some our most vulnerable community members. We greatly appreciate this collaborative process where governments and service providers are working together on common goals.”
The funding program is temporary, and activities and services will be delivered through existing organizations.
For more information regarding the Strengthening Communities Services Grant program, please visit: https://www.ubcm.ca/EN/main/funding/lgps/strengthening-communities-services.html
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Media contact:
Renée LaBoucane
SRD Manager, Strategic Initiatives
250-830-6711 | rlaboucane@srd.ca