Whitehorse - The Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition (YAPC) is pleased to announce a Call for Proposals for up to $200,000 for each of the next two fiscal years through Reaching Home, the Government of Canada’s homelessness funding strategy. Reaching Home funding is aimed at reducing chronic homelessness in a community, reducing homelessness of indigenous people in a community, reducing new inflows in to homelessness and reducing returns to homelessness.
“As the new Community Entity responsible for administering Reaching Home funds, YAPC is receiving proposals for funding until May 22nd,” says Kristina Craig, Executive Director. “COVID 19 has highlighted the need for coordinated responses for people who are precariously housed or who are homeless. We are excited that this longer term funding will be in place for organizations and service providers starting July 1, 2020.”
Funding decisions will be guided by the Reaching Home Community Advisory Board and the Safe at Home Plan to End and Prevent Homelessness. The Board is made up of over 20 organizations, people with lived experience and government representatives from all levels that are directly involved in housing and support services across the territory. Reaching Home eligible activities and expenses include Housing Services, Prevention and Shelter Diversion, Support Services, Capital Investments and Coordination of Resources and Data Collection. Funding proposals will also be considered that respond to the impact of COVID 19.
“There is a clear linkage between health and housing; investments in longer term responses to homelessness like this funding are refreshing,’ says Kate Mechan, Safe at Home Implementation Manager. “With Safe at Home partners, we are building a Coordinated Access System that will change the way this work has always been done. We need to coordinate across sectors and offer a more just and streamlined system of care.”
For support, an application package, or to learn more about Reaching Home and Coordinated Access, please see this link: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/homelessness/directives.html or contact JP Steverink, the Reaching Home Program Officer at (867) 689-5454 or rhprogramofficer@yapc.ca.