Our success finding housing placements can be attributed to the combination of available funding sources, wrap around supports provided by internal ASK housing & wellness teams, and the strong relationships between Nicola Valley Homelessness Support Project (NVHSP) and landlords/community partners.  From January 1st through to March 31st, a total of 20 clients were supported to find housing and/or temporary shelter.  Fourteen people were supported to find housing placements: 9 were accessing shelter, living rough, couch surfing (hidden homeless) or living at a non-sustainable rental, 3 domestic violence survivors were diverted from the precarious nature of transitional shelter services into secure and safe housing, 1 was diverted from shelter services into recovery services, and 1 was diverted from shelter services through transition first into temporary housing and then into supporting housing.  Of the 14 community members supported to find housing, all but one remain housed.  Six clients were provided with temporary shelter.

The program worked with 105 community members to provide necessary services to mitigate the risk of homelessness through housing placement and that supported stabilization and wellness.  Seventy percent required assistance with accessing food security options and over 50% of clients received direct NVHSP financial support.  Nearly 50% of clients sought supports regarding income related matters.  15 people identified work and/or education goals.  Nine were able to secure either full-time or part-time employment, 1 became self-employed, 2 took on volunteer roles to gain work experience, one gained a security worker license to facilitate employment opportunities, and the remainder continue their connections with WorkBC.

Our Cultural Support Worker (CSW) focuses on building relationships with both clients and Indigenous partner agencies and was able to bring clients to a newly opened wellness center built by the C'eletkwmx for members of the Nlaka’pamux Nation. Important connections were made with opportunities to learn and to take part in traditional ways of healing including sweat lodge, ceremony, and connections to Elders.  Our CSW facilitated group learning on traditional foods of the Metis people and a series of learning opportunities focused on “Nurture by Nature: Connecting & Processing Emotions”.  With a continuing strong focus on increasing wellness, our CSW also worked individually with clients on understanding and gaining connections to First Nations Health Authority health services to ensure that clients received appropriate care services.

The 2024-2025 grant year projected to support 120 – 160 individuals and we are proud to report we supported 181 unique individuals!