Ending Aboriginal homelessness in Red Deer
Four local organizations have partnered together to help end homelessness and become more efficient in providing services to Red Deer’s Aboriginal community.
On Thursday, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Shining Mountains Living Community Services, Red Deer Native Friendship Centre and Urban Aboriginal Voices Society to help achieve that end goal. Metis Urban Housing is anticipated to add their signature to the partnership as well following their next Board meeting.
Together, the four organizations make up the Aboriginal Voices on Housing Network (AVOHN) which aims to share information and strategies to improve the cascade of services for Aboriginal people. Through their collective efforts and of those of the City of Red Deer, AVOHN officials hope to improve the economic potential of the whole community, increase employability, educational achievement and support those in our community who experience homelessness and other related housing issues.
AVOHN Coordinator Dwight Mandrusiak says the group liases with a number of local organizations such as Canadian Mental Health and Safe Harbour Society to find the best ways of working together to help end homelessness among Red Deer’s Aboriginal people. According to AVOHN, Aboriginals currently make up approximately 44 per cent of Red Deer’s homeless population.