 |
|
FORT ST. JOHN – The Province is providing $65,000 in funding for the Fort St. John Friendship Society to run the Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program in Fort St. John, announced Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman.
“The
Province wants to provide Aboriginal people who are homeless with
culturally-appropriate supports and services to help them find safe, affordable
housing,” said Coleman. “The outreach work that will take place in Fort
St. John will assist people in greatest need to regain their independence and
build healthy lives.”
Through the Aboriginal
Homeless Outreach Program, outreach workers help Aboriginal people living on
the streets reconnect with their culture and provide them with access to stable
housing, income assistance and community-based support services. This program
is an expansion of the successful Homeless Outreach Program. Since the Homeless
Outreach Program began in 2006, approximately
4,600 people have been connected to housing and supports across B.C.
The Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program
continues the work of the provincial housing strategy, Housing Matters BC, and
the work of the Premier’s Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and
Addictions. With the addition of Fort St. John, the
Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program has been expanded to nine cities across
British Columbia.
The funding will cover operational and administrative program costs and will provide a homeless outreach worker along with mobile outreach beginning in April 2009. The Fort St. John Friendship Society is a community-based organization that provides a variety of quality programs and services to Fort St. John and surrounding area residents.
“Through our Special Friends Project, we already have a foundation in
place to take on the Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program,” said Anita
Lee, executive director for Fort St. John Friendship Society. “This funding will help us to enhance
those supports and work together towards more permanent solutions for ending
the cycle of homelessness in our community.”
In 2009/10, the Province's budget for affordable housing and shelters is
$469 million, more than four times as much as in 2001. ‘Breaking the Cycle of
Homelessness’ is a website providing a comprehensive and detailed look at
provincial programs and services to address homelessness. Visit www.bchousing.org/breakingthecycle for more information.
-30-
|
contact: |
BC Housing 604 439-4734 604 992-3305 (cell) |
|
|
|
||
|
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
||
