More Details on Shelter Funding

Monday, October 15, 2007 02:19 PM

As the Province kicks off Homelessness week, the details of the funding for shelters announced last week have been released.

In Prince George, there will be some improvements to facilities and services through additional funding.

The Association Advocating for Women and Children (AWAC) will expand its current homeless outreach services, receiving a total of $560,000 over three years. Outreach workers directly engage the street homeless, providing immediate and long-term assistance by offering not only food, clothing and shelter but access to transition services such as life-skills training and health and social programs.

AWAC and two other organizations will also receive funding for improvements at their emergency shelters.

The AWAC shelter is receiving one-time funding of $150,000 for building envelope repairs and window and door replacement. The Ketsoh Yoh shelter is receiving one-time funding of $16,600 to replace is mats with beds, and to replace the exterior ramp and walkway.

The Ketsoh Yoh shelter is receiving an annual funding increase of $52,300 to provide additional overnight staff. ASAP is receiving an annual funding increase of approximately $35,800 that will go toward staffing.

AWAC receives annual funding of approximately $540,000 through the provincial Emergency Shelter Program to operate 20 beds for women and children, and ASAP receives annual funding of approximately $490,000 for 25 beds for men and women. The Ketsoh Yoh shelter receives annual funding of approximately $400,000 for 21 beds for men.

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Posted on Monday, October 15, 2007 02:19 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Harbinger on October 15 2007 3:51 PM

No need to advertise across our country about this. A yappy press and word of mouth will get results. Howdy, homeless stranger. Welcome to B.C. Pull up a cot.

Posted by: Raparee on October 15 2007 4:00 PM

The majority of homeless are male, yet most of this money is going to an organization that deals exclusively with women and children.

What gives?

Posted by: duffer on October 15 2007 4:28 PM

I would like to know what is classified as a "life skill".

Posted by: Harbinger on October 15 2007 8:14 PM

Life skill is for example, buttering toast. That's a life skill.

Posted by: Becca on October 15 2007 10:25 PM

I was planning on commenting on everyone's ignorance on the topic and low level of empathy but decided it would be a waste of finger energy on the keyboard. Try broadening your minds from your sheltered (pun) lives and pick up a report or book that discusses the underlining reasons people are homeless instead of being judgemental.

Posted by: Buzz on October 16 2007 3:15 PM

Becca: Thanks for your comment. Ditto for me!

Posted by: Andyfreeze on October 16 2007 4:39 PM

Sorry guy's,but smart cracks on any given topic are fact of life, and there is usually reason behind them.
In this case,people are just plain fed up with watching bandaid after bandaid solution applyed to a problem that is getting worse instead of better!
The only thing that MAY help are the hard,cold,facst of life in treatment center somewhere and removing these people from the same temptations that enable them.
Then,and only then,can these people start to get their lives back in order.
Assuming they even want to change their lifestyle!
if they do want to change,then there should be help.
If they don't,then the handouts need to stop.
There are plenty of abusers of the system that gives handouts and free this and free that,a bed, and a cheque every month so just how do you think that is helping anyone?
To begin to deal with the problem the freebee's need to stop until they consent to treatment for whatever issues they may have.
I for one sympathize with many these people in this situation, but I am just plain tired of watching my tax dollars being used for something that will not help a damn thing.
And it also doesn't do much to help them reclaim their self respect either!

Posted by: Becca on October 16 2007 7:54 PM

Andyfreeze

See your focus is on the person, instead of a system that lacks a health and well-being prespective or at the very least more preventative services. It is the canadian gov that is the root of most of the people on the streets by ignoring poverty (yes even the working poor), assimilation of the First Nations people, lack of mental health services, etc. But instead of pointing the finger at the gov we look for the flaws in the people who most visable. Your are right this chuck of funding is a bandaid and is not a step in the right direction by all means. As for those who choose to spout out opinions based on ignorance, I don't buy that it is just a form of expressing frustation at the system. It is just mean in poor form.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on October 16 2007 8:53 PM

Becca,
I am fully aware that a major part of the problem is in fact with provincial and federal governments.
No arguments there.
But that does not change the fact that a large part of the problem is in fact with many of the people themselves.
Sorry,but we don't get to go through life without taking responsibilty for our own actions.
And if some of these people are not capable of accepting that responsibilty,then they sure as hell should not be out wandering the streets!
And bandaids will not solve a thing,they will only make it worse,and that is exactly why the problem is not going to go away any time soon.
It will continue to get worse.
Not all these people are addicted or mentally ill.
To think that is not only naive,it's downright dangerous!
Some are just plain abusers of the system but I would suspect that you know that!

Posted by: Raparee on October 17 2007 12:14 AM

Andy,

"Approximately 86% of homeless persons have a lifetime diagnosis of either mental illness or substance abuse. This is 2.7 times the rate in the general population."
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb0402-e.htm#prevalencehomeless

"A 1997 study in Calgary found that 45% of the homeless who were interviewed were working, albeit in unstable and low-paying jobs."
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb991-e.htm#COMPOSITIONtxt

Posted by: Andyfreeze on October 17 2007 11:17 AM

Statistics are great for what they are,but they do not solve the problems.
They are simply numbers on a page and people get paid to put them there.
I see a lot of retoric on the subject but no solutions... so until somebody steps up and starts telling it like it is,I seriously doubt my opinion will change!
And nothing changes the fact that handouts compound the problems.
I've been around a long time, and I have seen the issue get worse over time,much worse.
So, that SHOULD be telling us that the way the situation is being dealt with is NOT working!
What don't people get about that?

Posted by: duffer on October 17 2007 11:44 AM

Andy, you are correct. The more we give, the less incentive these people have to do anything to help themselves. I get sick and tired of my tax money that I have paid for the last 35 years going to waste on 90% of these people. Some of you might say I am lucky to have a half decent paying job. You know what? I worked for it, long hours, weekends and everything else, without a union to shelter me either. I don't mind helping out people that are willing to try to change their lifestyle, but not the lowlifes that think wveryone else owes them a living.

Posted by: duffer on October 17 2007 11:51 AM

Sorry, in the last sentence it should be "everyone"

Posted by: Andyfreeze on October 17 2007 12:06 PM

Well said duffer,and I couldn't agree more!
Instead of turning a blind eye,people need to stand up and say enough is enough,now actually DO something instead of throwing money at the problem!

Posted by: Raparee on October 17 2007 7:30 PM

Everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it.

Any suggestions, Andy?

Posted by: Andyfreeze on October 17 2007 9:05 PM

Treatment programs are a good place to start.
Not just a warm bed and a belly full of food.
And if you don't want to get involved in a treatment program,then you don't get the perks.
Give them a hot meal and a bed but no cheque.
And if they are mentally unstable,get them off the street and into a facility where they can get help.
And more incentives for low income single parent families.They really need the help.
The government has money for everything else,and it's about time they started actually doing something for these people.
As it stands now,are they are doing is enabling them.
There IS a better way!