Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Funding secured for First Nation’s youth shelter for Prince Rupert


The Vancouver Sun has posted a story on its website that provides details on funding from the provincial and federal governments to help alleviate homelessness in the First Nations communities of British Columbia.

Across the province a total of 292 new units will be opened in 10 B. C. communities, following a one-time injection of $50.9 million from the provincial and federal government, working in conjunction with other funding partners, including several non-profit aboriginal societies and the Dr. Peter Centre.

Of interest to Prince Rupert will be funding provided for a 25-bed youth crisis shelter in the city.
The Sun article quotes Rudy Kelly, of the Prince Rupert Friendship House, as saying that a youth shelter in the city has been desperately needed for several years, with aboriginal teens and young people making up 88 per cent of street youth. "There is still a lot of poverty," Kelly said.

Full details on the announcement can be found on the BC Government website which provides some background on the plan as well as details for communities across the province.

Province boosts aboriginal housing
Darah Hansen, CanWest News Service
Published: Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Vancouver's homeless aboriginal population with HIV/AIDS will soon have access to 30 new single-resident housing units, courtesy of a major funding initiative announced Wednesday.
The project is part of a total of 292 new units to be opened in 10 communities across B.C. - 77 of them in Vancouver - following a one-time injection of $50.9 million from the provincial and federal government, working in conjunction with other funding partners, including several non-profit aboriginal societies and the Dr. Peter Centre.The new units are aimed at meeting the dire housing needs of B.C.'s urban aboriginal population.

"Thirty per cent of first nations households living off-reserve are living in inadequate housing or in places they can't afford," said Rich Coleman, the provincial minister responsible for housing.
Coleman was one of several political officials who, along with representatives of various aboriginal groups, attended a ceremony Wednesday in Vancouver marking the funding announcement.

Other projects receiving money include a 25-bed youth crisis shelter in Prince Rupert, a 17-bed halfway house in Vancouver and 20-unit apartment in Kamloops designed for families, elders and young people.

Rudy Kelley, of the Prince Rupert Friendship House, said a youth shelter in the city has been desperately needed for several years, with aboriginal teens and young people making up 88 per cent of street youth.

"There is still a lot of poverty," Kelley said.

Rosanna McGregor, vice president of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, the organization that oversees funding for aboriginal housing needs in the province, said she was encouraged by the new funding.

"It's very pleasing for me to see how many different organizations stepped up to the plate and said, There is a need, and the need is across the province,'" she said.

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