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Ministry of Forests and Range and Minister responsible for Housing |
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NEW FUNDING FOR HOMELESS OUTREACH IN NELSON |
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NELSON – Annual provincial funding of $70,000 for three
years will be available to begin a new homeless outreach service in Nelson,
Minister responsible for Housing Rich Coleman announced today.
“Homeless outreach services in about 30 communities across B.C. have
provided stable homes for more than 1,600 people,” said Coleman. “The outreach
work is clearly successful in helping to break the cycle of homelessness, and
now we are able to introduce it in Nelson.”
Outreach workers directly engage the street homeless, providing immediate and long-term assistance by offering not only food, clothing and shelter but access to transition services such as life-skills training and health and social programs. By providing intensive, one-on-one help such as arranging and attending appointments with the homeless, the outreach workers enable them to receive health, nutrition and other basic services that are often taken for granted by the public, but not always used by those in need.
The outreach will begin as soon as a non-profit group is identified to do the work.
Today the Province announced additional annual funding of $41 million for a range of new and expanded measures to break the cycle homelessness across the province. These measures focus on breaking the cycle of homelessness through outreach and intervention on the street, and providing more permanent housing with supports, to help people regain their independence:
· Increase funding for emergency shelters so they can be open 24/7 to provide better services and assistance for those who are homeless;
· Expanding homeless outreach services to 27 new and existing communities;
· Provide 750 rent supplement units to assist the homeless in the private market; and,
· Work with municipalities to fast-track approvals for more supportive housing.
An additional $2.4 million is being provided to emergency shelters for
one-time capital funding and ongoing annual operating funding.
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contact: |
BC Housing 604 439-4789 604 619-6525 (cell) |
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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. |
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