Provincial funding to tackle homelessness and family violence in Central Alberta

The City of Red Deer and the Town of Sylvan Lake are receiving provincial funding to help address homelessness and prevent family violence.

Red Deer is getting $125,000 from the Housing First grant program to increase its capacity to provide Housing First programming and services for homeless Albertans. This is in addition to the more than $3.5 million provided annually to the City through the provincial budget for this purpose.

Earlier this year, the province invested more than $36,000 to upgrade Red Deer’s adult emergency shelter and address fire and safety risks. This is in addition to the $596,000 provided annually to support the shelter.

“As we continue on the path to eliminate homelessness, the Province, the City and community agencies recognize the importance of working together to respond to our economic climate and the ongoing need for housing and supports for our vulnerable citizens,” said Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer.

Veer added that today’s allocation of funds will top up some of the work already undertaken by the City. Decisions made regarding provincial funds provided to the City of Red Deer take into consideration the dynamics of the homeless population locally. 

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“The recent data tells us that approximately 40 per cent of our homeless population is the Aboriginal community. So those funding decisions will be made in accordance with that criteria,” she noted. 

The specific need for this portfolio of funding will be used for intensive case management and Aboriginal cultural supports. In the long-term, the funds will be used to help get the homeless population off the street and into housing. 

“This top up today and extra allocation from the provincial government means that we can better meet the existing demand because there is substantial demand in that [Aboriginal] sector of the homeless population,” said Veer. 

The Town of Sylvan Lake is getting $150,000 through the Family and Community Safety Program to help implement a community action plan to address family violence. 

Sylvan Lake is working with Benalto, Bentley, Blackfalds, Bowden, Delburne, Eckville, Elnora, Innisfail, Lacombe, Rimbey, Rocky Mountain House and Stettler to establish centres to provide consistent information, resources and referral supports to those affected by family violence and bullying.

The 13 communities have formed the Central Alberta Regional Vision for Non-Violence Coalition to develop and share resources.

“This grant funding has allowed our Coalition to begin steps towards addressing Family Violence in each of our communities,” said Colleen Lewis, regional coordinator for the coalition. “We will be using the same language and resources, working towards our common goals and providing seven different education and training opportunities for service providers in our Coalition.  Also, we will be creating a Centre for Positive Relationships in each of the thirteen Coalition communities.”