New Housing Support Available in Grand Falls-Windsor

People in Grand Falls-Windsor and surrounding communities now have access to a new form of housing support made possible through funding provided by the Provincial Government to the Central Housing and Homelessness Network and Exploits Valley Community Coalition. The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Lead Minister of the Poverty Reduction Strategy, today announced $60,070 to create a housing support worker position in the area.

“People with complex needs can be especially vulnerable to housing instability, and they often have few alternatives available to them beyond short-term solutions such as brief stays with family and friends,” said Minister King. “Having a housing support worker in the region will provide opportunities for comprehensive one-on-one assistance that can help individuals pursue positive long-term housing opportunities.”

Headquartered at the Exploits Community Centre, the housing support worker role is intended to provide a wide range of assistance such as searching for housing alternatives to suit people’s needs, helping people access government programs and services, and providing guidance on how to maintain housing stability.

“I am very pleased to see this new form of housing assistance become available, and I commend these fine community-based organizations for their efforts,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and MHA for Grand Falls-Windsor - Buchans. “The housing support worker will become a trusted source of help for individuals who need ongoing personalized support. I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes this new position will generate for members of our communities.”

An initiative of the Poverty Reduction Strategy, the Supportive Living Community Partnership Program provides funding to community-based organizations to develop comprehensive housing supports for people who need them. Projects funded through the program have focused on building capacity among community-based organizations, extending regional outreach services, providing training and professional development, and sharing best practices.

“Working in close partnership with the Central Housing and Homelessness Network, we have created an exciting form of housing support that can offer the guidance and encouragement vulnerable people need to overcome their challenges,” said Karen Beresford, Executive Director of the Exploits Valley Community Coalition. “On behalf of the coalition and the network, I want to thank the Provincial Government for empowering community-based agencies across the province with dedicated funding that helps create tailored solutions to local housing and homelessness issues.”

The program began in 2009 with a budget of $1.2 million, which was doubled in 2010 to $2.4 million, and doubled once more to $4.8 million through Budget 2011 Standing Strong: For Prosperity. For Our Future. For Newfoundland and Labrador. Today’s announcement is part of the $840,000 that was distributed to multiple community-based organizations to conclude the 2010-11 funding period. A call for proposals will soon be issued for 2011-12 program funding.

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2011 08 01             11:05 a.m.