Funding announced to help the homeless

Page 3

Seven Regina homelessness projects will receive just over $729,000 in funding as part of the National Homelessness Initiative.

Aman House Inc. will receive $21,000 to train its staff in proposal writing and partnership building, as well to help the organization identify priority activities and establish a plan for long-term sustainability of it's homelessness activities. The project, established in 1995, provides services for Aboriginal people infected with HIV, housing six to 12 people each year.

Over $220,000 will be used to establish Kids First Day Care Centre Inc. at Cochrane high school. The new day care will allow young parents the opportunity to return to and complete high school. It will also offer support services and parenting classes.

Cornwall Alternative School will also receive over $220, 000 for building repairs, the purchase of equipment, and outreach services. The school offers classes to 34 students between ages 12 and 16 who have behavioral issues, drug or alcohol related problems, poor attendance and other personal difficulties.

Ehrlo Community Services, which operates a 48-unit apartment complex for single parents and low-income families, will receive $73,000 to help it establish the Young Parent Program, a transitional housing facility for young parents.

First Avenue Child Care, operating since April, is a partnership between Market Square Day Care and the Food Bank. The majority of the children in the program come from single parent families, and many of the parents are aged 15 to 24 and are at risk of becoming homeless. The daycare centre will receive $116,000 to buy furniture, equipment, floor coverings and a van and to cover the first 12 months of its rent and utility costs.

Mobile Crisis Services, which responds to about 55 calls a day and has provided social and health crisis intervention services since 1974, will receive $54,700, allowing the project to continue to operate for another year.

Street Culture Kidz Project Inc.'s participants use arts, business and life skills programming to develop interesting and exciting programs for their peers. With just over $21,000 in new funding announced, the project will work to increase public awareness of the problem of youth homelessness in Regina.