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$11M housing plan | April 07, 2009
The Warm Zone | March 20, 2009
Tackling poverty with hope | January 23, 2009
Measuring up success | November 22, 2008
Rally to replace pride parade | November 21, 2008
Extreme weather plan set | October 29, 2008
Inmates released homeless | October 29, 2008
Supportive Housing in Abbotsford | October 22, 2008
Many homeless kids, few beds | October 18, 2008
$11M slated for housing plan
City to consult with public on proposed location, rules for supportive facility
The province is investing $11-million into a 40-unit supportive housing project in Abbotsford for low-income women and their children.
The Women's Resource Society of the Fraser Valley (WRSFV) will be involved in the design and development of the facility.
It also won the contract tendered last fall to provide on-site support services, including around-the-clock daily staffing.
"By being a part of this development process, we are continuing our work to make the Fraser Valley a better place for women and their children," said Pam Willis, WRSFV executive director.
"We work to improve the quality of life for vulnerable women in the Fraser Valley. We are pleased to partner with the province and the City to help make this housing development a reality."
Construction is earmarked at the proposed site - 3106 Clearbrook Rd. - near the Matsqui Recreation Centre.
For 25 years, the WRSFV has provided help for women facing domestic violence and other risk situations, as well as counselling, outreach for women and children. The society also operates two transition houses and two second-stage housing projects.
The announcement was made Friday by Minister of Housing and Social Development Rich Coleman, and Abbotsford MLAs Mike de Jong and John van Dongen.
"By partnering with the City of Abbotsford, we are able to bring more stability to people's lives," said de Jong, Abbotsford-Mount Lehman MLA. "In addition to new supportive housing, this joint venture will also create new jobs in our community."
Coleman noted the housing facility will yield 70 jobs locally.
"Projects like this one are essential to support families and communities during these challenging economic times," said Coleman.
The proposed supportive housing facility will help people move beyond temporary emergency shelters so they can re-establish their independence, effectively breaking the cycle of homelessness.
Rezoning is required for the site, and the city must go through the approvals process and consult with the public.
"This is an important step in developing much-needed supportive housing for our community," said Abbotsford Mayor George Peary.
Abbotsford also continues to explore options for a second site within the city. A proposal on Emerson Street was scrapped due to local opposition.
© Abbotsford Times 2009
The Warm Zone
Helen Guergis, federal Minister for the Status of Women, was in Abbotsford yesterday to announce funding for the Warm Zone project.Abbotsford women who face the biting cold and violence associated with living on the streets have a new place to seek respite.
The Women’s Resource Society of the Fraser Valley (WRSFV) is getting $281,721 in funding for a three-year pilot project to support and help Abbotsford sex trade workers.
The Home, Healing and Place project will help facilitate support, healing, skills development, housing and ultimately the full social inclusion of street-engaged women in Abbotsford and Mission, said Pamela Willis WRSFV executive director.
“The project is encompassed in its name,” said Willis.
“It deals with all three components in the name. All those needs were outlined by the women themselves.”
The program will operate out of an upper level storefront location at 2481 McCallum Rd., just opposite Jubilee Park.
It will operate as a drop-in centre, aptly named the “Warm Zone” by the women who will use it when doors open Monday, said Willis.
The Warm Zone has full bathroom and laundry facilities and personal lockers so women can keep their belongings in a safe spot.
“If you’re homeless and it’s wet or cold outside, even if you’re not in the rain, you’re always damp,” she said.
“Women have said they need a safe place to go with a full bathroom, with access to a shower or bathtub – a place to get clean.”
Federal Minister for the Status of Women Helen Guergis joined Abbotsford MP Ed Fast, Mission MP Randy Kamp, and Abbotsford Mayor George Peary to announce the funding for the project yesterday at city hall.
The project is a natural extension of the work WRSFV has been doing with female sex workers over the last 2 1/2 years, and the needs it will meet have been identified by the women themselves, said Willis.
“They told us they need a place where people will listen without judgement, and who won’t push them to be different people than they are,” she said.
“Some are ready for counselling, but that isn’t something you engage in when you are struggling to survive. You have needs that are far more pressing such as shelter, food or the next fix.”
The resource society deals with about 50 to 60 women a month, many of whom struggle with addiction and who are involved in the sex trade. Most are homeless.
The only common denominator between the women tends to be abuse, said Willis.
“They could be your mother, sister, friend, or acquaintance – people you know.”
“They come from many different places in life, but when we peel away the layers of what’s happened to these women we usually find sexual abuse.”
The women have also requested programs to help with skill development, literacy and pre-employment.
“We’re not duplicating programs that already exist, but rather acting as a bridge,” said Willis.
The women will be fully supported if referred to other programs.
“It’s not just here’s a number to call,” she said.
Find this article at:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/news/41607242.htm
The business community can work successfully with social service and non-profit groups not only to chip away at poverty, but also to boost the local economy.
But it has to change its perspective about the "poor," and look for innovative connections between the two economic groups.
That was the message delivered to the well-attended Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting Tuesday by Michael Wilson, the executive director of the Phoenix Recovery Centre in Surrey.
The $12-million centre he helped found was established in 2005, and by 2007 it was awarded the Business Excellence Award for community organizations by the Surrey Board of Trade.
It includes an addictions program for youth to professional types in beautiful, hotel-like surroundings, and a transition housing component for those ready to re-enter the employment market.
In addition, there's an education centre, a call centre to provide career opportunities for its clients, and on the street level, a florist and coffee shop. That might confuse people first coming to the centre, Wilson said, but that was intentional.
"We intended that to disrupt the 'usual' public concept of a poverty and addictions centre," he said.
As a microcosm of the local community, the project drew support not only from government and social agencies, but also from the wider community, said Wilson.
The project in all its aspects appealed to the hope and potential in the minds of the people involved, from the backers to the people who use the centre.
Wilson referred to reaction people have had worldwide to the United States' new president, Barack H. Obama, who was inaugurated on Tuesday.
"What resonates today is the message of hope. He has the audacity to hope. I guess it's something that exists and resides in all of us," he said.
"In our community, we're excited, there's a renewed sense of hope, of capacity."
Reducing poverty is more than crisis invention - a key is to address problems in innovative ways, something that was facilitated by the Vibrant Surrey coalition.
© Abbotsford Times 2009
Homeless sheltered from winter’s deadly grip
The plight of the homeless is evident in Abbotsford, but when the weather dips as low as it has this week, a night outdoors could be fatal.
The city’s Extreme Weather Response Program to house the homeless has kicked into gear as icy winds and winter weather have gripped Abbotsford.
The program has been underway since Thursday when the temperatures hit zero, said coordinator Dave Murray.
However, Murray is worried by the low numbers of people seeking shelter.
“We’ve had around 38 to 46 per night since Thursday,” said Murray, who added he’s not sure what to make of the low turnout.
“We have enough beds for 120 people. We have over 200 homeless in the city. They are either finding places to stay on their own or they’re not coming in.”
One possible reason is the homeless are worried about having their possessions stolen while they take refuge in the emergency shelters, said Murray.
Some clients are worried their tents, sleeping bags or bicycles will go missing if they head indoors.
“I’m extremely concerned. I don’t want anybody freezing to death,” he said.
“It’s a very difficult issue to store their belongings. It’s something we’re working on, but it’s not in place yet.”
Outreach workers and staff from agencies participating in the program are seeking out the homeless during the day and encouraging them to come to the Salvation Army or Abbotsford Community Services Food Bank where they will be assigned a bed.
People who have come in are being housed at the Salvation Army or Grace Church on McMillan Road.
Deb Lowell, of the Salvation Army, explains people typically have a hot meal at the Centre of Hope before being assigned a bed for the night.
The Salvation Army has 40 beds available and Grace Church can house 25, she said.
Over the weekend the Salvation Army kept its drop-in centre open all day, so people didn’t have to wander around in the freezing cold.
“We’re trying real hard in this type of weather to ensure nobody has to be outside,” said Lowell.
Street youth are immediately directed to the Cyrus Centre which feeds, clothes, shelters and counsels young people at risk.
The centre has access to 12 beds, and seven youth have asked for shelter, said Murray.
A crew of at least 150 volunteers with the Extreme Weather Response Program’s churches and community agencies are working to keep the homeless safe.
Volunteers are busy cooking breakfast, snacks and bagging lunches for the people housed at Grace Church, said Murray.
“We try to encourage [volunteers] to treat the homeless with dignity - like they’re are guests in a hotel.”
If more beds are necessary Sevenoaks Alliance and the Emmanuel Mennonite churches will open their doors, he said.
Murray expects the numbers of those escaping from the cold to rise as the sub-zero temperatures stretch into next week.
“We can and will handle the capacity,” he said.
Success marked in Measuring Up, people with disabilities in workforce
Abbotsford News | November 22, 2008
A group formed to increase the number of people with disabilities into the Abbotsford workforce has reported a perfect 10 so far.
Annette Borrows, the co-chair of the Measuring Up Working Group, has told Abbotsford council that Abbotsford businesses have responded well in the provincial 10 by 10 challenge. That initiative challenges communities to increase the number of people with disabilities in the workforce by 10 per cent by 2010.
Before the challenge started earlier this year, Borrows told council that only 44 per cent of people with disabilities were employed province-wide.
So far, she explained 70 B.C. communities have taken up the challenge and an additional 206 people with disabilities have become employed in Abbotsford.
In light of that, Borrows has now raised her goal to 500 people by 2010.
To recognize Abbotsford’s achievements to date, the Union of B.C. Municipalities has presented its Innovative and Integrated Approach Award to the organizers of the local program. They, in turn, handed it over to the City of Abbotsford on Monday.
The Measuring Up Working Group is a sub-committee of city hall’s Abbotsford Social Development Advisory Committee.
Rally to replace pride parade
Organizers hope to garner more support by expanding focus
Forget the pride parade - plans to spread a message of acceptance in Abbotsford will now be done through a Rally in the Valley.
The University of the Fraser Valley Pride network confirmed it will hold a rally for Social Justice on Dec. 6 in Abbotsford to address students' rights for equality and diversity within the education system.
UFV Pride members, along with a number of Abbotsford high school students, were planning to hold a first-ever pride parade for Abbotsford.
Instead they decided to hold a rally that focuses on everything to do with discrimination, said UFV Pride president John Kuipers.
"Although this event did start as the Abbotsford pride parade, we have discussed the roots of the problems stemmed deep in our community, and explored a new way of promoting social change," said Kuipers.
UFV Pride members hope that by broadening the focus of the event they will be able to garner more community support, he said.
"Not only are we going to be supporting pride through this rally, but we will be supporting every group that has felt discriminated against."
The rally will address many areas of concern including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, gender and disability.
In regards to the cancellation of Social Justice 12 by the Abbotsford board of education and the amount of heated and spirited community debate that stemmed from the idea of holding a first-ever pride parade, Kuipers said it is particularly important that this type of rally be held in Abbotsford ASAP.
He added, the main focus of the rally is, "to make aware to the community the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the rights that we have as citizens to be free of discrimination."
The Social Justice rally will begin at 11 a.m. at Abbotsford Community Services (2420 Montrose Ave.).
Those participating in the event will then walk up McCallum Road to UFV (33844 King Rd). Once the rally winds up at UFV the public is invited to listen to a number of speakers at 12:30 p.m. who will be talking about human rights, diversity, equality and the need for change.
Kuipers said all the Abbotsford students who originally wanted to hold an Abbotsford pride parade are "extremely happy to be holding this rally."
HAVE YOUR SAY:
- Is the Social Justice rally a better way to get the message out versus a pride parade? Let us know by e-mail at letters@abbotsfordtimes.com.
©Abbotsford Times 2008
Extreme weather plan set
Abbotsford should have more homeless beds than it needs this winter to prevent people from fending for themselves in sub-zero temperatures.
That’s according to Don Luymes, the city’s director of strategic and community sustainability, who said he is confident that the city will have enough beds as part of its extreme weather program.
Luymes was speaking a short time after Abbotsford Mayor George Ferguson suggested that the McCallum Activity Centre could be converted into a temporary homeless shelter. However, that building is slated for demolition before the winter.
According to Luymes, 140 to 150 beds will be available this winter. Last year, he said there was generally a demand for between 35 and 40. The peak, he said, was 66. A number of churches, the city’s Ag-Rec building, the Salvation Army, and the Abbotsford Food Bank are all on standby to provide the beds if required, Luymes said.
There will be one significant change for 2008, Luymes continued.
Rather than the “trigger point” for the extreme weather plan to be -4C, he said this year the beds will become available when the temperature drops below freezing.
Find this article at:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/news/33590094.html
Out of jail, inmates find themselves homeless
The city of Abbotsford and service providers are planning to gather to deal with one of the “dirty little secrets” around the release of inmates in the Fraser Valley.
Stacey Corriveau, manager of community economic development for Community Futures South Fraser, said inmates being released into communities are finding themselves on the streets because of a lack of affordable housing.
“The dirty little secret of Abbotsford is we have a great need and it’s being ignored,” Corriveau said.
There are 14 prisons in the Fraser Valley with 48 inmates per month being released just from the region’s nine federal institutions, she said.
“Imagine someone leaving prison with a few boxes of belongings and a couple hundred dollars he’s managed to save, who is no longer the responsibility of the prison system.”
“If someone is released from Agassiz, he might pick Abbotsford because of the relative density of services. If he spent $100 to get here and has got a $100 left when he arrives, there aren’t a lot housing options for him.”
When faced with homelessness inmates often find themselves moving backwards.
“To survive they fall back in with criminals and don’t build positive community relationships,” said Corriveau.
In extreme instances they purposely re-offend to go back to jail to get shelter.
It would be cheaper for society to come up with housing options, she said.
“The average cost to jail a federal inmate to taxpayers is $93,000 a year. How many people could you house with that kind of money?” she asked.
It’s also impossible to help inmates find work if they are living on the street, said Corriveau who helps people with training, employment and business startups.
“I can’t do anything with a guy living in a ditch.”
Younger inmates mostly head into Vancouver, but older inmates who likely did longer sentences, and have fewer community connections and employment skills tend to remain in the Fraser Valley, she said.
However the exact number of inmates facing homelessness on Abbotsford streets isn’t known.
“We don’t have the hard fast numbers and that’s a hole we really need to fill,” she said.”
After a conversation at the City of Abbotsford’s affordable housing working group meeting last month, the City is convening a special session in the coming year to try to meet inmates’ shelter needs. City staff, members of council, potential funders, representatives from the federal and provincial corrections systems as well as non-profit groups will gather to identify obstacles and try to come up with solutions.
The costs to society in not finding a solution includes increased crime and costs to the medical and social welfare system, she said.
Find this article at:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/news/33590144.html
‘Plan B’ a seniors’ project, new facilities at Kinghaven
If not on Emerson, then where?
An Abbotsford city councillor was asking that question after recognizing city hall might have to admit defeat in its plan to build up to 50 supportive housing units at 2323 Emerson St. with provincial money.
Victoria has pledged $22 million to build supportive housing in Abbotsford, and an estimated $1.3 million for 35 years for operating costs. That housing would be made available for homeless people and people at risk of homelessness.
Up to 50 units are also proposed for a city-owned property on Clearbrook Road, next to the Matsqui Recreation Centre.
In seeking alternatives, Coun. John Smith says he has a “Plan B.”
Still in its infancy, Smith told The News that this plan could potentially leave the Clearbrook application as it stands. It has been stated that this location could be set aside for mothers and children.
The rest of the money, Smith suggested, could then be split. Part of it, he said, could still be used at Emerson to build a smaller location for low-income seniors.
The rest, he explained, could then potentially be used to build a smaller facility at the Kinghaven Treatment Centre at 31250 King Rd.
Kinghaven currently offers intensive treatment for addicts for 70 days before they return to the community.
Smith said any plan for Kinghaven could potentially have problems, however, as the city does not own the land and the area is not directly serviced by transit. Both of those elements are in the criteria set by the provincial government for the supportive housing funding.
Milt Walker, Kinghaven’s executive director, said yesterday that his board would “very seriously” consider a supportive housing plan for Kinghaven if approached by either the City of Abbotsford or B.C. Housing.
“We have some very successful clients who have nowhere to go and are at risk to be homeless or to go to facilities that make it difficult to continue in a recovery program,” said Walker.
“If we were to have one on the site, they could move from treatment to supportive housing, allowing them to go to school, get apprenticeships, get a job . . .”
While there are potential stumbling blocks with any Kinghaven proposal, Walker said that on the plus side, the land would not have to be rezoned.
He also said Kinghaven has a strong, 38-year relationship with B.C. Housing.
“Our challenge has always been with the men after 70 days. They have done very well with their treatment but you are throwing them back into what they were in to,” he said.
“If we could continue that support in a structured setting I think they would do very well –perhaps live there for a year and then move back into the community.”
n In terms of other alternative sites for the housing, Smith said the old MSA Hospital site has also been suggested.
That location is unlikely to be suitable, Smith said, explaining that B.C. Housing has already “committed” an additional 100 supportive housing units at that location. It is unlikely that those units will be built until at least 2012, Smith estimates.
Find this article at:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/news/32588754.html
Nicole was one of many at risk kids in Abbotsford who was helped by the Cyrus Centre.
Many homeless kids, few beds
Les Talvio figures that at any given time there are 40 to 60 youth in Abbotsford who are either homeless or close to it.
Talvio is director of ministries at Cyrus Centre, a safe place for kids who are at risk or living on the street. They can get food, do laundry, have a shower, get help and even use it as a temporary shelter.
The centre recently opened up the only two emergency beds in Abbotsford dedicated to youth.
The organization has housed over 20 young people in the last two months, but in virtually the same time span, it had to turn away more than 30 others who needed shelter.
Despite the high numbers of youth-at-risk in the city, Abbotsford has only ever had two emergency beds available for them - and sometimes not even that.
Previously the Valley Youth Safe House had two emergency beds, but it was forced to close due to lack of funding in March 2007.
Between the time Cyrus Centre opened it’s beds in July 2008, youth on the street went without.
“We have only two emergency youth beds in Abbotsford,” said Talvio.
“If they are full we have to look for other beds in Maple Ridge, North Vancouver, or Chilliwack, which ultimately makes it more difficult to find the youth a place to live in their own community.”
However, Talvio is grateful for small mercies.
“It’s two [beds] we didn’t have before. Is it enough? No.”
“Is it better than nothing? Yes.”
It’s no surprise he hopes for more.
“I’d love to see an increase in beds and programing for youth that need it.”
Homeless youth are particularly vulnerable to predators, said Talvio.
“When kids don’t have a safe place to be, they’re vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
“They’re often unaware it’s even taking place. It’s not clear what they may have to do in return for offers of shelter, food or clothes.”
The kids that come to the Cyrus Centre come from all walks of life, fleeing from family breakdowns, abuse or dealing with addiction issues.
Nearly half of street youth were once in foster care, and one-third suffer from high levels of depression, according to the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness.
Securing youth permanent housing is complicated by skyrocketing rents, low vacancy rates, and landlords reluctant to rent to young people, even if they have a job, said Talvio.
The vacancy rate has improved in Abbotsford since 2007, according to annual rental market data from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
However, Abbotsford rents went up 9.1 per cent between April 2007 to 2008, one of the top four increases in the country.
The average rent for a two bedroom apartment in the city is now close to $800, well beyond the means of most at risk youth.
During homelessness action week Oct. 12 to 19, communities are being challenged to tackle the program, either through organizing campaigns, hosting neighbourhood meetings or supporting community service groups.
Talvio says he often wonders at people who want something done about homelessness, but expect someone else to deal with the problem.
“Often people wait for someone else or “them” to do something,” he said.
“I often find myself asking, ‘Who’s them?’”
“We need to look after youth within our community.”
For more information on Cyrus Centre visit cyruscentre.com.
For more information on homelessness action week see stophomelessness.ca
