Homeless projects receive funding

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

Inn from the Cold is one of the agencies to get federal funding

Homeless projects in Kelowna are getting a financial boost from the Federal Government.

Through the Government of Canada's Homeless Partnering Strategy (HPS) $1,208,514 was allocated to the Kelowna Community Advisory Board on Homelessness.

The funding is provided as part of a cooperative planning process between local community-based organizations, agencies and governments to find local solutions for people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness.

Seven community partners will share $227,300:

• Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society
• Kelowna Gospel Mission
• Kelowna Community Resources
• Canadian Mental Health Association
• John Howard Society of the Central and South Okanagan
• Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs
• Inn from the Cold

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

A homeless person leaves a makeshift shelter in Kelowna in 2010

The federal contributions are for projects that started April 1, 2012.

Randy Benson, the Chair for the Community Advisory Board on Homelessness, says on June 4, the Central Okanagan Foundation also received approval to be the Community Entity under the HPS’s new Community Entity Model.

"Over the next two years, the Central Okanagan Foundation will distribute HPS funding of $981,174 to local organizations for the development of housing and support services. This represents $779,948 in Designated Communities funding and $201,266 in Aboriginal Homelessness funding."

The Central Okanagan Foundation's Grants Manager, Cheryl Miller, says the partnership with the government will make a real difference in the city of Kelowna.

“With the Homelessness Partnership Strategy Designated Communities and Aboriginal Homelessness funding, we can improve services to meet the needs of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in our community.”

The Central Okanagan Foundation has been providing funding and support to a variety of projects in the community since 1977.