Abbotsford – City of Abbotsford – Homelessness is a complex, Canada-wide issue that requires the cooperation and coordination of governments and agencies across multiple levels.
As a federally-designated “Community Entity” under the national Reaching Home program, the City of Abbotsford receives funding each year to support local efforts to address homelessness. On Sept. 1, City Council approved allocating $85,000 of those funds to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to aid in putting and keeping roofs over people’s heads.
MCC was identified to administer these funds because they already operate the Rent Bank and they have the infrastructure in place to receive, assess and distribute financial assistance directly to eligible individuals and households. The goal is to get the funding to the individuals who need it as quickly as possible.
The funding will support the Fraser Valley Rent Bank, which helps people at risk of losing their housing due to financial issues, as well as the Flexible Encampment Response Fund, which helps people transition from encampments to permanent housing.
Preventing housing loss is an important part of the City’s homelessness response, as maintaining existing housing is generally more effective and less disruptive than trying to rehouse someone after they become homeless. The Rent Bank helps by offering immediate, short-term financial assistance to those in need. This program is in high demand as housing costs continue to outpace incomes, especially for those on fixed incomes.
Through recent encampment responses, including at Cole Road, we’ve learned that relatively small and timely investments can sometimes mean the difference between someone remaining homeless and being able to move into housing. The challenge is that existing government resources, while available in many circumstances, may not always be accessible or appropriate due to eligibility requirements, program limitations, processing timelines or an individual’s circumstances.
The intent of the Flexible Encampment Response Fund is to complement, not replace, those resources. Existing government funding would continue to be accessed whenever someone is eligible and it can meet their needs. When it cannot, this fund can potentially fill the gap by covering the cost of a damage deposit, the first month’s rent, or helping with basic furnishings, or another one-time expense directly connected to getting someone successfully housed.
Together, these programs support a prevention-focused approach to homelessness by helping individuals and families maintain existing housing, while also strengthening housing-focused encampment response by providing flexible resources to overcome barriers to permanent housing.
Our thanks to MCC for administering these funds and for their ongoing commitment to supporting the most vulnerable members of our community. Abbotsford is fortunate to have a strong network of community agencies and non-profits working together to prevent homelessness and help people move from homelessness into stable housing.
Abbotsford City Council
