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By Liam Verster

Funding for homeless supports and services

Federal funds available for initiatives that combat homelessness in rural Alberta

Dec 3, 2020 | 12:22 PM

The Rural Development Network (RDN) is distributing $1.8-million in federal funds to organizations that run or are establishing initiatives, programs and support services for those actively or at risk of becoming homeless in rural Alberta.

RDN, formerly the Alberta Rural Development Network, is distributing the funds to applicants looking to fund projects specific to meeting the needs of individuals in communities outside of the seven cities, Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Medicine Hat and Fort McMurray.

Those rural and remote communities include First Nation reserves, Metis settlements, and smaller communities, including the towns and hamlets in the County of Grande Prairie and the surrounding Peace Region.

Sydney Stenekes, the Program Manager of Homelessness Initiatives at RDN, says there is a range of projects that can be granted some of these funds.

“We’re really able to support prevention and shelter diversion related activities, so helping clients who are at risk of eviction or losing their housing to maintain that housing,” says Stenekes. “That could be through providing assistance via rental arrears or utility bills, that sort of thing.

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“We’re also very much prioritizing requests coming in from shelters and mat programs who want to help keep clients social distanced in the shelters and they need access to PPE and cleaning supplies and that sort of thing, so that’s also something that we’ve been prioritizing.”

RDN has supported other initiatives in previous years with funding to provide basic needs like food and transportation, and through mental health programs like counselling. While those programs are also being supported through these funds, the RDN is trying something new this year by supporting capital projects.

“That can include the purchasing of things like land, buildings and vehicles, and renovations specifically related to emergency shelters, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing,” says Stenekes.

“We can also actually fund capital projects such as the development of a food bank or a resource centre.”

She adds that they are asking organizations to focus on the needs of their communities, and come up with plans that would specifically help the local population.

The RDN will prioritize funding groups looking to help keep people in their homes, as lots of people have been struggling to keep a roof over their heads during the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the economic crash tied to the drop in oil prices.

The funding is available for not-for-profits, municipalities, FCSS offices, Indigenous organizations, and even for-profit organizations. Groups must fill out an application, and send it to the Rural Development Network’s Program Coordinator, Munira Abdulkadir, at muniraa@ruraldevelopment.ca. Further questions regarding the application process can be directed to the Rural Development Network.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday December 9, at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.

Those who are awarded funds must complete the projects by no later than March 31, 2021.

This is the second round of funding RDN is distributing this year. In April, $796,692 in federal funds was given out in support of 30 projects aimed at helping rural Albertans struggling with homelessness.

The money for the projects comes through RDN via the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.