City of Abbotsford allocates over $1.7 million of federal funding for homelessness prevention programs
ABBOTSFORD — With help from a federal housing program that funds urban, Indigenous and rural communities across Canada, the City of Abbotsford says it has been able to allocate more than $1.78 million towards program funding that helps vulnerable people stay in safe, affordable housing.
According to a news release from the municipality Monday (Mar. 18), the city says an allocation of $1.78 million comes following a two-year renewal of Abbotsford’s status as a designated community within the federal Reaching Home program.
Of the 19 applications received, five local capital, service and shelter-diversion projects were selected to receive funding by Abbotsford’s Reaching Home Community Advisory Board (CAB), comprised of various stakeholders representing and/or serving the different population groups of those experiencing or at risk of homelessness in our community. These projects were selected for their focus on reducing the return to homelessness for at-risk individuals, providing wraparound supports and outreach services to help keep vulnerable people housed, and adding additional supportive housing spaces for those experiencing homelessness to move into.
These Reaching Home projects will take place in 2024 and 2025 with the funding spread over the same period. An additional $212,838 of Reaching Home funding will be maintained for future considerations, like data collection and coordination or resources, and will be allocated and disbursed by the CAB later this year.
Reaching Home, as part of Canada’s homelessness strategy, is defined as a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing support and funding to urban, Indigenous, territorial and rural and remote communities across Canada. The City of Abbotsford earned its designation as a community participant in the Reaching Home program in June 2020.
“Homelessness and the risk of homelessness is a complex issue and remains a growing concern for our City,” Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens said. “Supporting those at risk of experiencing homelessness requires a collaborative and coordinated approach, and these projects will help provide sustainable supports and housing options for the most vulnerable members of our community. We are grateful to the Government of Canada for supporting our overall efforts to reduce homelessness in Abbotsford.”
More information about Reaching Home and the city of Abbotsford’s homelessness program can be viewed at www.abbotsford.ca/reachinghome.