The Daily News gives a few local details about a planned development in Prince Rupert for youth at risk in the city, a story we first tipped Podunkians to last Wednesday.
In Tuesday’s Daily, Farley Stewart gives a bit of background into the plans and the need for more affordable housing in the community.
CRISIS CENTRE BOOST FOR ABORIGINAL YOUTH
Twenty five bed facility is planned for community
By Christian Webber
The Daily News
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Pages one and three
More than $50 million will create 292 housing units in 10 communities across B. C. - including Prince Rupert – under the Aboriginal Housing initiative.
The 25 bed youth crisis facility, that will be opened in Prince Rupert is being developed with the support of Friendship House.
Friendship House Executive Director Farley Stewart said one of the goals of the strategy is to assist the 30 per cent of Aboriginal families living off-reserve in inadequate or unaffordable housing.
“With these new units, we will improve living conditions and help families create new opportunities,” said Minister responsible for Housing Rich Coleman.
In March, a proposal call invited Aboriginal non-profit societies to help build new, affordable housing off reserve, with the intention of finding about 200 new housing units. As a result of the strong partnership proposals received by the provincial government, nearly 50 per cent more will be built.
These 13 new housing developments will address a range of Aboriginal housing needs and priorities including youth, women, elders, and people with alcohol and drug addictions.
The proposal call was issued in consultation with the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA). Formed in B. C. in the mid 1990’s, AHMA is the only Aboriginal social housing management agency in Canada.
Rosanna McGregor, AHMA vice president, said there is a broad range of housing needs in the Aboriginal community that must be addressed.
“The results of this proposal call will help to do this, as 13 Aboriginal housing societies will have new resources to create safe, secure affordable housing,” said McGregor.
The Aboriginal Housing Initiative is receiving $50.9 million in one-time funds through the Off-Reserve Aboriginal Housing Trust, designed to address the housing needs for Aboriginals living off-reserve.
The Government of Canada has transferred the money to the province, which is working with AHMA to administer the trust.
“Canada’s New Government is delivering on our commitment to create affordable housing for Aboriginal Canadians in British Columbia,” said James Moore, Member of Parliament of Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam on behalf of Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.
“We want to create a safer, stronger better Canada for everyone, including Aboriginals, and adequate housing is essential to that vision.”
Farley Stewart with the Friendship House said they have been working on this project for more than five years, modifying it, adjusting it to the needs of the community and also looking into funding sources.
“Basically, it means we’re going to get a nice facility for the youth of Prince Rupert,” said Stewart.
He said that this new facility is timely, that there is a big gap in the youth services in Prince Rupert. He said that there are a number of committees in Prince Rupert trying to address the needs but this will give them a boost in trying to deal with the needs of the young people.
“Hopefully, it will make some differences. It will try and enhance what services are out there now, but also fill in some of the gaps,” said Stewart.
The facility they are looking for here can be up to 25 beds and he said they want to work with different resources in the community to needs.
Right now, they are looking at several facilities. He said the big hurdle was getting the funds, now that they have the finances, they need to look at fitting the rest of the puzzle together. The funding they are being awarded is going to be stretched around a maximum 25 beds, staffing, and other resources for the youth. Zoning by-laws and a number of staff will be among the expenses.
“We want to help them out as well, ‘you are here for a reason, how can we help you,” said Stewart.
He said there will be some life-skills aspects to the project and clients must have some ownership over it.
In Tuesday’s Daily, Farley Stewart gives a bit of background into the plans and the need for more affordable housing in the community.
CRISIS CENTRE BOOST FOR ABORIGINAL YOUTH
Twenty five bed facility is planned for community
By Christian Webber
The Daily News
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Pages one and three
More than $50 million will create 292 housing units in 10 communities across B. C. - including Prince Rupert – under the Aboriginal Housing initiative.
The 25 bed youth crisis facility, that will be opened in Prince Rupert is being developed with the support of Friendship House.
Friendship House Executive Director Farley Stewart said one of the goals of the strategy is to assist the 30 per cent of Aboriginal families living off-reserve in inadequate or unaffordable housing.
“With these new units, we will improve living conditions and help families create new opportunities,” said Minister responsible for Housing Rich Coleman.
In March, a proposal call invited Aboriginal non-profit societies to help build new, affordable housing off reserve, with the intention of finding about 200 new housing units. As a result of the strong partnership proposals received by the provincial government, nearly 50 per cent more will be built.
These 13 new housing developments will address a range of Aboriginal housing needs and priorities including youth, women, elders, and people with alcohol and drug addictions.
The proposal call was issued in consultation with the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA). Formed in B. C. in the mid 1990’s, AHMA is the only Aboriginal social housing management agency in Canada.
Rosanna McGregor, AHMA vice president, said there is a broad range of housing needs in the Aboriginal community that must be addressed.
“The results of this proposal call will help to do this, as 13 Aboriginal housing societies will have new resources to create safe, secure affordable housing,” said McGregor.
The Aboriginal Housing Initiative is receiving $50.9 million in one-time funds through the Off-Reserve Aboriginal Housing Trust, designed to address the housing needs for Aboriginals living off-reserve.
The Government of Canada has transferred the money to the province, which is working with AHMA to administer the trust.
“Canada’s New Government is delivering on our commitment to create affordable housing for Aboriginal Canadians in British Columbia,” said James Moore, Member of Parliament of Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam on behalf of Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.
“We want to create a safer, stronger better Canada for everyone, including Aboriginals, and adequate housing is essential to that vision.”
Farley Stewart with the Friendship House said they have been working on this project for more than five years, modifying it, adjusting it to the needs of the community and also looking into funding sources.
“Basically, it means we’re going to get a nice facility for the youth of Prince Rupert,” said Stewart.
He said that this new facility is timely, that there is a big gap in the youth services in Prince Rupert. He said that there are a number of committees in Prince Rupert trying to address the needs but this will give them a boost in trying to deal with the needs of the young people.
“Hopefully, it will make some differences. It will try and enhance what services are out there now, but also fill in some of the gaps,” said Stewart.
The facility they are looking for here can be up to 25 beds and he said they want to work with different resources in the community to needs.
Right now, they are looking at several facilities. He said the big hurdle was getting the funds, now that they have the finances, they need to look at fitting the rest of the puzzle together. The funding they are being awarded is going to be stretched around a maximum 25 beds, staffing, and other resources for the youth. Zoning by-laws and a number of staff will be among the expenses.
“We want to help them out as well, ‘you are here for a reason, how can we help you,” said Stewart.
He said there will be some life-skills aspects to the project and clients must have some ownership over it.
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