AGENCIES CHOSEN TO PROVIDE EXPANDED HOMELESS OUTREACH

VICTORIA – Non-profit organizations have been selected to begin homeless outreach services in seven communities, and four organizations have also been selected to provide increased outreach services in Vancouver and Prince George, Minister responsible for Housing Rich Coleman announced today.

“Outreach workers are proving effective in connecting people on the street with services that help them break the cycle of homelessness,” said Coleman. “More than 2,500 British Columbians have been housed through the Homeless Outreach Program since 2006 and now more communities and people will benefit from outreach work.”

Homeless outreach workers will begin services in the Comox Valley (Comox and Courtenay), Campbell River, Vernon, Penticton, Nelson and Terrace. An additional outreach service provider has been selected for Prince George, and three organizations have been selected to provide homeless outreach in three specific neighbourhoods in Vancouver (Grandview, Collingwood/Renfrew and Kitsilano).

Outreach workers provide immediate and long-term assistance to people on the street by offering food, clothing and shelter as well as 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.

The selection of the service providers follows a Call for Expressions of Interest earlier this year to provide homeless outreach in the communities. The Homeless Outreach Program provides services in nearly 40 communities with an annual budget of $3.9 million and is part of the provincial housing strategy, Housing Matters BC. Budget 2008 increased the amount the Province invests in affordable housing and shelters to more than $380 million a year, more than three times as much as in 2001. Copies of the housing strategy can be downloaded from www.housing.gov.bc.ca.

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The following non-profit societies have been selected to provide homeless outreach services in the communities below:

Each society will receive annual funding of $65,000.

The goals of the Homeless Outreach program are to:

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Media contact:
Sam Rainboth
BC Housing
604-439-4789