By Sheldon Spackman

Ending Aboriginal homelessness in Red Deer

Mar 15, 2018 | 5:10 PM

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.

“It’s strategizing, gap-analysis, just working collectively together,” explains Mandrusiak. “I think that’s what community is all about is working together.”

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He says the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday is to openly and transparently show a commitment from the organizations involved to ending homelessness and better serving Aboriginals in the community.

“Why is there such a high number now and what do we need and how can we move forward to decrease that?” Mandrusiak asks.

“Right now the challenge is housing,” Mandrusiak continues. “There is a lot of two-bedroom homes, one-bedroom homes available but for families it’s more difficult in regards to four-bedroom or three-bedroom homes. There is a huge shortage in Red Deer, so it’s something we’re working with the City that we need to come up with ideas on how we can increase that.”

Mandrusiak adds it will take a community effort to fully address the challenges ahead.

“It’s been quite responsive from other agencies and the community, they’re very open, it’s going good,” admits Mandrusiak. “Is it going to change overnight? No, it’s a long-term project and of course funding and money is part of the main factors and then dealing with an individual on a case by case.”

He points out however that progress in this regard is being made.

“It will be ongoing though,” concludes Mandrusiak. “We’ll house two people today, another person might be homeless tomorrow. The economy plays an effect on it as well.”