New funding for HIV North means that the organization can continue to grow in Grande Prairie. Executive Director Melissa Buyers says they received $420,000 for a new Permanent Supportive Housing initiative.
“If the individual is not successful in being able to maintain independence in their housing, they will be transferred to the Permanent Supportive Housing team which is the contract we just got. Essentially, it is for people who are harder to house and need some extra help.”
She says it is part of the province and Canada’s 10 year plan to end homelessness. Altogether with the new contract and the renewal of the Street Outreach Supports initiative, HIV North received around $750,000 for helping with homelessness in Grande Prairie.
“Living skills, day-to-day mitigation of life, meeting medical appointments, and engaging in the community so that they feel a sense of belonging and potentially maintain housing independently.”
Buyers adds that the future holds big things for their organization. Down the road, they would like to offer more housing programming instead of being a link to them.
