| October 15, 2007 PRINCE GEORGE – The Association Advocating for Women and Children (AWAC) will expand its current homeless outreach services, receiving a total of $560,000 over three years, and AWAC and two other organizations will receive funding for improvements at their emergency shelters, announced Prince George-Mount Robson MLA Shirley Bond, Prince George North MLA Pat Bell, and Prince George-Omineca MLA John Rustad. This funding is a part of Friday’s provincewide housing announcement. “We’re expanding this program because homeless outreach services have proven effective locally and provincially,” said Bond. “In Prince George for example, AWAC has housed more than 100 people through their outreach work, helping to break the cycle of homelessness - they are certainly making a difference in Prince George.” “Today’s announcement provides a combination of capital and operating funding that will help emergency shelters improve the important services they offer in our community,” said Bell. “Emergency shelters provide a valuable service to those who find themselves in very difficult circumstances, and this capital funding will assist those who need a little help to get back on their feet.” “Our government has worked hard over the past six years to foster a strong economy that will provide opportunities for British Columbians,” said Rustad. “But for those who are struggling, we are committed to addressing issues surrounding homelessness and emergency shelters can provide people with valuable services.” There is currently one outreach worker, this funding will allow for an additional worker. 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. Additional funding is also being provided for AWAC’s shelter for women and children, and also for Active Support Against Poverty’s (ASAP) Bridget Moran Place, and the Prince George Native Friendship Housing Society’s Ketso Yoh Centre Men’s Hostel. The AWAC shelter is receiving one-time funding of $150,000 for building envelope repairs and window and door replacement. The Ketsoh Yoh shelter is receiving one-time funding of $16,600 to replace is mats with beds, and to replace the exterior ramp and walkway. The Ketsoh Yoh shelter is receiving an annual funding increase of $52,300 to provide additional overnight staff. ASAP is receiving an annual funding increase of approximately $35,800 that will go toward staffing. AWAC receives annual funding of approximately $540,000 through the provincial Emergency Shelter Program to operate 20 beds for women and children, and ASAP receives annual funding of approximately $490,000 for 25 beds for men and women. The Ketsoh Yoh shelter receives annual funding of approximately $400,000 for 21 beds for men. Budget 2007 increased funding for the Emergency Shelter Program by $27 million over three years, converting about 300 seasonal cold/wet weather beds to year-round beds, bringing the total number of year round beds across the province to about 1,300. In addition, there is funding for about 1,100 shelter spaces across the province that are made available during extreme weather conditions. 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: An additional $2.4 million is being provided to emergency shelters for one-time capital funding and on-going annual operating funding. -30- | |
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