Rural homelessness projects in Alberta get $4 M from feds

The federal government is delivering $4 million for communities and organizations in rural Alberta working to reduce or prevent homelessness. The funding comes from rural and remote funding streams as part of Reaching Home, Canada’s national homelessness strategy, and will be distributed over the next two years in Alberta by the Rural Development Network (RDN).

“Investing in these local solutions supports community-led projects that help those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We will continue working with the Rural Development Network to support those most in need in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Alberta,“ Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities, said in a statement.

The additional $4 million will go to Alberta’s rural, remote, First Nation, and Métis Settlement communities outside of the province’s seven major cities. The majority of provincial funding for homeless shelters and programs is received by those seven cities, with the bulk of funding for rural homelessness supports already coming from Reaching Home. To reduce barriers faced by Indigenous communities in applying and accessing Reaching Home funding, RDN has also introduced an alternative application process for project proposals from First Nation and Métis Settlement communities. Changes to the application process were made with feedback from the organization’s Indigenous partners.

RDN is currently accepting project proposals and anticipates some projects could be off the ground as early as April. The deadline for applications is Feb. 9, 2024. 

See the full story on St. Albert Gazette’s website:

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