Home safe and sound

It’s one thing to work toward solving homelessness by helping people get off the streets and into safe, decent accommodation.

But what about people who aren’t on the streets, who are working but at a financial tipping point, desperately in need of temporary help to make the rent?

The new Homelessness Prevention Fund is designed for just that kind of short term emergency, and has already helped two dozen people with one-time grants up to $500. One of them is single mom Joy Charleson, who has three kids, two of whom are still at home.

“This money was a lifesaver for me,” said Charleson, who suddenly found herself without a place to live, and three weeks away from an appointment for social assistance.

The problem began when she and her partner broke up.

“He was fine with the kids staying with him till I found a place, but he wanted me out. I was facing homelessness — not a great feeling. I had a place in mind, but couldn’t afford the rent on my own, so I needed a roommate and that took time. I was living off borrowed money ...

“Having this program help me out was amazing. It felt so good,” said Charle-son, 34, who works in daycare and homemaking. “It warms my heart to know there are places out there helping people who are trying to get onto their own two feet.”

The one-time emergency grant does not have to be repaid and applicants are thoroughly vetted, said Debbie Thompson, executive director of the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness. A member of the 11-agency partnership overseeing the new fund, she hopes it will help stabilize housing and send a strong signal that ordinary citizens can make a difference to policies and actions that protect people.

She explained the fund came together through leadership of the Victoria Foundation, with two anonymous pledges of $50,000 each, plus $20,000 from Paula Carey’s yoga group. Carey teaches yoga and donates proceeds to community causes. She recently set up a fund for single parents at Camosun College.

Other donations are flowing into the fund and Carey believes “the amazing response” is because people feel they are part of something important. “This really makes sense because sometimes all a person needs to stop being evicted is $50 or $100. They may have a sudden car repair to deal with, a tooth that needs filling. ...”

Thompson agrees, saying people can face the loss of their apartment, and possessions, simply because they got sick. “They may have to miss a week of work without pay.”

Almost 65 per cent of those living here are renters.

“We have some of the highest rents in the country, and the lowest wages. Many working people are up against the wall and while many of us have a line of credit — a little emergency fund or the support of friends and family — they don’t have that financial cushion.”

Thompson, who researched rent banks in other cities and local groups that provide stop-gap funding, said this new rent bank is different.

“It’s a partnership of service agencies, which means it can link people to other community supports, like child care. But the key, really positive element is it’s independently funded. Historically, organizations would help by taking money out of existing budgets, whereas this fund is built by citizens’ donations. This is an additional resource in the tool-kit of front-line workers.” The grant is also not subtracted from the low- income supplement.

Other partners include Our Place and Victoria Cool Aid societies, Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Mustard Seed, Salvation Army, Burnside Gorge Community Association, Pacifica Housing Advisory Association, St. Vincent de Paul, Together Against Poverty and the Ministry of Social Development.

The fund is being managed by the Victoria Foundation. Anyone who wants to donate can learn more by calling 250-381-5532.

Sourcehttp://www.timescolonist.com/