The Saint John Human Development Council is getting $1.2-million over the next five years from the federal government to distribute to local groups for homelessness projects.
The money is coming from the Homelessness Partnering Strategy and the HDC’s Randy Hatfield says organizations will apply to the fund and their application will be vetted and reviewed. $85,000 of that funding has been earmarked for Housing Alternatives this year.
Executive Director of Housing Alternatives Kit Hickey says the money will allow them to dedicate adequate human resources to the Housing First project.
“We can ensure that the individuals that are being housed are being adequately supported,” says Hickey. “In addition to the human resources we’re also going to establish a fund that will assist them with furnishing the apartments and an emergency fund.”
When it comes to the way poverty is addressed in Saint John Hatfield believes we’re seeing a greater stregthening of collaboration at the community level.
“What the HPS does this allows us to inject some funds into community based organizations and they can leverage so that hopefully we can start to make a difference in some of these really tough issues,” says Hatfield.
The money was announced at an event at the Nick Nicolle Community Centre by Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long and featured multiple speakers including Saint John mayor-elect Don Darling.
Thrilled to announce 1.2 million over five years to fund projects to reduce poverty in our City! @SaintJohnHDC pic.twitter.com/FR30vGqFb7
— Wayne Long (@WayneLongSJ) May 13, 2016
