Helping homeless
By Susan Zielinski - Red Deer Advocate
Published: July 22, 2008 6:35 AM
Red Deer wants to address homelessness by bringing together service providers, developers, builders, government and people in need under one roof on Sept. 15.
It’s one way to start to “connect the dots,” said Stacey Carmichael, co-ordinator of Community Leadership Initiatives with Red Deer & District Community Foundation.
The tradeshow-style event EveryOne’s Home Connect will be held at Red Deer Lodge from 4 to 7 p.m.
“If we’re going to end homelessness in our community, which I believe whole-heartedly we can do, there isn’t any one sector, or any one person, or organization, or level of government that can do it on their own,” Carmichael said.
“We need to work together.”
It’s the first community event since the release in February of — EveryOne’s Home: Red Deer’s Vision and Framework on Ending Homelessness by 2018.
Carmichael said in the past people have been frustrated.
They didn’t know how to move forward with a housing project or how to fund it.
The trade show has been organized to help find answers and facilitate partnerships.
Space for 40 individuals, companies or organizations is available at the event to set up booths or just be on hand to talk about what they’re doing.
If people feel they aren’t ready to have a table or display they could still contribute, she said.
“I’d still encourage them to come and stuff their pockets with their business cards and bring their ideas.”
Red Deer’s homelessness plan is looking to provide 213 affordable accommodations each year to meet existing or future demand. They can take a variety of forms from rent supplements, secondary suites, affordable rentals to affordable home ownership.
“We feel this event will actually be a benefit to every single person in our community.
“If you’re someone who’s homeless, or at risk of being homeless, you would be able to come out and find service providers there. Or if you’re someone who has an interest in selling some property or developing some property, or taking on a philanthropist role in our community there’s an opportunity there to connect you to the right folks.”
For more information or to pre-register to reserve a vending space call Carmichael at 403-341-6911.
Contact Susan Zielinski at szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
