Drayton Valley And Area Homelessness And Poverty Reduction Team
About Drayton Valley And Area Homelessness And Poverty Reduction Team
We are a municipal community group dedicated to reducing homelessness and poverty in Drayton Valley and area by raising awareness, providing outreach advocating for the homeless & at-risk and building capacity within our community & it's residents.
Drayton Valley And Area Homelessness And Poverty Reduction Team Description
The Homeless and Poverty Reduction Team a coalition made up of local service providers, municipal council members, non-profits, educators, business leaders and FCSS, working together to address the issues of homelessness and poverty in Drayton Valley, Brazeau County and area. Supported by funding from the Government of Canada's Homelessness Partnering Strategy and using findings from locally conducted research, we developed a Five-Year Homelessness and Poverty Reduction Strategy. This strategy includes elements of awareness, advocacy, outreach, programming and coordination of services. We recognize that homelessness does not limit its impact to one area of our community and so it will take an entire community working together to eliminate it.
Our current programs include the Community Assistance Fund, the Community Mat Program and the How to Help Homeless campaign. If you or some one you know is in housing crisis, contact our coordinator and she will connect you with resources to help you over the short and long-term.
Community Mat Program
The Community Mat Program provides unsheltered individuals with temporary overnight emergency shelter and connects them to appropriate supports that will increase their chances of attaining safe, suitable and affordable housing in the long term.
The Community Mat Program is part of a larger strategy to reduce /eliminate all types of homelessness in our community, it is not the end solution.
How it works: Doors of the program open at 7: 30PM and will be manned by two volunteers until 10: 30PM. If any clients show up between those hours then the volunteers will stay all night and accept further clients until 12AM. If no clients access the program between the hours of 7: 30PM and 10: 30PM then the volunteers pack up and go home. Days of operation will be posted on the doors of the United Church, social media and circulated to service providers.
If you would like to make volunteer with the Community Mat Program or make a donation, please contact Emily at 780-514-2221. All donations over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt.