Through federal Reaching Home program funding, the City of Abbotsford has been able to allocate more than $1.78 million in funding for projects that work towards helping vulnerable people attain and stay in safe, sustainable and affordable housing. The allocation of these funds comes following a two-year renewal of Abbotsford’s status as a Designated Community through the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home program.
Of the 19 applications received, five local capital, housing, service and shelter-diversion projects were selected to receive funding by Abbotsford’s Reaching Home Community Advisory Board, which is made up 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 remains for future considerations, like data collection and coordination of resources, and will be allocated and disbursed by the Community Advisory Board later this year.
Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, is 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 became a Designated Community under the Reaching Home program in June 2020.
Developing our Reaching Home coordinated access system and implementing the City’s Homelessness Action Plan supports Council’s strategic goal of addressing social issues that impact our community, and strengthens responses to homelessness in Abbotsford. More information about Reaching Home and the City of Abbotsford’s Homelessness Program can be viewed at www.abbotsford.ca/reachinghome.
Quotes
“Canadians deserve a safe and affordable place to call home. As work continues to increase affordable housing options across the country, the federal government is working directly with communities, such as Abbotsford, to invest in projects that aim to reduce chronic homelessness and help their most vulnerable people,”
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.
“Homelessness and the risk of homelessness is a complex issue and remains a growing concern for our City. Supporting those at risk or 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.”
Ross Siemens, Mayor of the City of Abbotsford
Additional info:
• Backgrounder with funding recipient information
For more information contact:
Aletta Vanderheyden
Communications and Public Relations Manager
City of Abbotsford
E: media@abbotsford.ca