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Homelessness and OSSI funding approved for community agencies

Dec 11, 2018 | 12:30 AM

Programs in Red Deer which receive funding from the federal Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) and provincial Outreach and Support Services Initiative (OSSI) agreements have been extended.

Current funding was set to end for those agreements on March 31 and June 30, 2019, respectively.

However, because the new federal Reaching Home homelessness strategy is coming into effect on April 1 of next year, the Community Housing Advisory Board recommended that city council extend current allotments until the end of September to make the transition more efficient from The City’s current plan to end homelessness by 2018 to the new strategy.

HPS programs currently being funded in Red Deer are offered at Safe Harbour, the Bredin Centre for Learning, Central Alberta Women’s Outreach Society, and by the Red Deer Native Friendship Society.

OSSI agreements are currently in place with each of those (except Bredin), as well as the Canadian Mental Health Association and McMan Central.

CHAB provided a second recommendation to council on Monday with respect to a request from the Canadian Mental Health Association for additional funding at the Buffalo Hotel.

The request stemmed from an increase in safety requirements due to the heightened use of crystal meth and fentanyl, council heard. 

The additional funding to the tune of $138,000 comes from existing OSSI funding which became available earlier this year when another program getting funding folded. It will be used to hire a new staff member. 

The extra funding for the Buffalo, which has 39 units tended to by the CMHA, was approved.

The City of Red Deer currently receives OSSI funding from the province, then CHAB makes recommendations, and city council ultimately approves how the dollars are distributed.