Homeless in Vancouver
Homelessness in Vancouver
I had the privilege recently of having lunch with the founder and president of "Street to home", Jae Kim.
This is an organization that is dedicated to helping find affordable, safe housing for Vancouver's homeless, by 2015.
She told me some interesting facts about the homeless citizens of Vancouver. Did you know that 65% of the homeless in Vancouver, start out in the foster care system.
She also told me, studies show that costs range from $55,000 to $135,000 a year for every person on the street without a home. providing housing with support services for that person would cost about $37,000 a year
there are approximately 1,700 people are homeless in Vancouver.
The lack of affordable housing in our city is one reason we have this tragically high number. Even families and citizens who may hold a regular job can find themselves technically “homeless” because they are unable to find a place they can afford.
These residents of our city often have no choice but to stay in crowded shelters overnight. Others may couch surf, live in their cars, pitch a tent beneath an underpass, or find some cold alcove outside a building to sleep each night.
Streetohome approach
Streetohome Foundation has both a short and long-term strategy to tackle homelessness… and engage the entire community in this important work.
Using a "collaborative model" that actively encourages all members and sectors of the community to pool their energy and resources to tackle homelessness. In particular, Streetohome has encouraged the active participation of community members who have traditionally not been involved in tackling this issue. Through Streetohome, key corporate leaders are joining with non-profits and governments to explore and implement solutions to homelessness. See a list of our Board and Committee members
We bring new partners, new funding sources, business acumen and a community-wide commitment to this challenge. Our efforts are designed to help strengthen and complement the work already being done on homelessness by many non-profit groups and governments. Collaboration is the key to our success.
If you would learn more or help support this great organization please visit their website http://www.streetohome.org/about-streetohome
If you have any questions or comments regarding this blog post, please email me at kathystilwell@gmail.com
or call me at 604-341-0101... Together we can help make Vancouver a better place for all it's citizens.