Skate for the Homeless is a charitable event that will take place on Friday, February 10 (Surrey Pro-D day) from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. at the Surrey Sports & Leisure Complex Arena #3 in Fleetwood. Admission is by cash donation, and snacks and drinks will also be available for sale (cash only). All proceeds will go directly to the Surrey Homelessness & Housing Society. New and gently used warm clothing and non-perishable food items are also welcome.

Skate for the Homeless is the idea of Robbie Dudra, a grade 5 student at Rosemary Heights Elementary School in South Surrey. A goalie for the Semiahmoo Ravens Atom A3 team, Robbie has long had a passion and desire to help the homeless. He came up with the idea for a charity skate because skating is an activity that he and many people enjoy.

For more information about this event, please contact Kim Dudra at kpd1@shaw.ca.

See the poster.

Groups make a real and lasting difference to homeless people 

By Peter Simpson
Vancouver Sun
December 3, 2011
 
“It breaks my heart when I read a Vancouver Sun story on the plight of cold, wet and hungry people who are turned away from extreme weather shelters because there are no beds. BC Housing and community organizations are doing admirable jobs addressing this issue.

When my thoughts drift to the issue of homelessness, two images are vivid.

One, my kid brother lived by his wits on the streets of Toronto for 30 years, on and off. Mark died two years ago, a predictable victim of the destructive demons that possessed him – from alcoholism to substance abuse and from conning anyone within earshot to stealing anything within arm’s reach.

Although he marched to the heavy beat of his own drummer, he was a gentle man. I miss him.”

Read the rest of the article HERE.

Peter Simpson is the president and chief executive officer of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association. Email peter@gvhba.org

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Groups+make+real+lasting+difference+homeless+people/5807437/story.html

Delview Theatre Company/Production class will be presenting a One-Act Ensemble Play called Blues by Jerome McDonough for three evening shows on Tuesday, Dec. 6, Thursday, Dec. 8, and Friday, Dec. 9 in the Drama Studio, at 7 pm each night, running for approximately one hour. This is a very interesting and provocative play dealing with issues of homelessness, poverty and community, and it features some unusual audience interaction as well. It is described by the play’s narrator as “Our Town 100 years later.” The play focuses on the lives of those less fortunate than us which is an important and timely reminder for the holiday season in early December. Half of all ticket sales will be donated to Surrey Homelessness & Housing Endowment Fund.

During Homelessness Action Week on October 12, Surrey Connect Days brought in various service providers, a pancake breakfast, a hearty lunch, a clothing drive and more to Surrey Urban Mission.

Watch the video now!

October 13, 2011: The Surrey Homelessness & Housing Society announced the recipients of its 2011 annual grants today.

The Society is providing close to $200,000 to nine Surrey-based agencies to support projects that will provide solutions to homelessness in Surrey.

The 2011 Grant Recipients:

BC Synod ELIC: $15,000.00, Surrey Urban Mission Site Redevelopment

Surrey Urban Mission, a ministry of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, B.C. Synod, provides programs and services for neighbourhood kids, single moms, elderly and disabled residents, people who are currently homeless and those who are vulnerably housed as well as those with challenges related to addiction and mental illness.
The site redevelopment project will envision a development of the building that will make best use of the land in providing services and affordable housing for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver: $50,000.00, Re-zoning and Capital Improvement

Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver provides support services to some of society’s most vulnerable populations – women, girls and children at risk of involvement, involved in or affected by the justice system.
$50,000.00 has been awarded for re-zoning and capital improvements on a transitional house, which would increase the capacity of the women’s addiction treatment program, adding 18 more beds.

Launching Pad Addiction Rehabilitation Society: $12,500.00, New Roof

The Launching Pad Addiction Rehabilitation Society works to rehabilitate adult victims of substance abuse for re-entry into society as contributing citizens. to accomplish this, The Launching Pad manages and maintains an affordable residential facility for persons of low and moderate income to enable pursuit of a 12-step program of recovery and promote living skills. $12,500.00 has been awarded for to repair a leaking roof.  The repair will prevent the loss of ten client beds over which the roof leaks and will provide shelter for the oncoming winter season.

Lu’ma Native Housing Society/First Funds Society:  $10,000.00, Community Voice Mail Project

Lu’ma Native Housing Society was created to provide affordable housing to Aboriginal families and individuals with low to moderate income. $10,000.00 has been awarded for the community voice mail project through which organizations with homeless/phones clients can provide a local phone number with a personalized phone greeting message and voice mail service. This allows clients to confidently apply for housing, employment, and access to health care and be in contact with family without the detriment of the poverty stigma.

Options Community Services Society—Hyland  House Cloverdale: $50,000.00, Hyland House Cloverdale Enhancement

Options Community Services Society is committed to empowering individuals, supporting families and promoting community health.  To this end, Hyland House Cloverdale shelters individuals who are homeless or deemed ‘at risk’ of becoming homeless $50,000.00 has been awarded to this shelter site situated on approximately 3 acres. The program came into operation with the understanding that it would transition into a pet friendly shelter service, transitional and long term housing program that also operates as a therapeutic farm for individuals needing to work on personal challenges. The intent is to build 15-20 emergency shelter spaces and 20 self contained units which can accommodate pets.

Sources Community Resources Society: $22,500.00, Surrey Homelessness & Housing Task Force

Sources Community Resources Society, which recently merged with Newton Advocacy Group where the Surrey Homelessness & Housing Task Force was formerly held, has been a source of support to individuals and families coping with isolation, addiction, poverty, disability, and conflict. $22,500.00 has been awarded to the Surrey Homelessness & Housing Task Force, which collaborates in a number of ways to improve coordination of services for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless and to raise public awareness about and involvement in solutions to homelessness in Surrey.

Sources Community Resources Society: $30,000.00, Surrey Rent Bank

Sources Community Resources Society, which recently merged with Newton Advocacy Group where the Surrey Rent Bank was formerly held, has been a source of support to individuals and families coping with isolation, addiction, poverty, disability, and conflict. $30,000.00 has been awarded to the Surrey Rent Bank which prevents and reduces homelessness for low-income individuals and families by providing loans for rent, security deposits and utilities arrears, and financial literacy workshops.

White Rock South Surrey Community Foundation: $5,000.00, Peninsula Homeless to Housing Roundtable

White Rock South Surrey Community Foundation aims to help individuals and groups make an ongoing difference in the Semiahmoo Peninsula region. $5000.00 has been awarded to the Peninsula Homeless to Housing Roundtable.  The Roundtable develops leadership capacity through on-going communication and provides advocacy opportunities for affordable housing on the Peninsula, including Homelessness Action Week activities.

Sources Community Resources Society: $4500.00, Peace Arch Free Dental Clinic (PAFDC)

Sources Community Resources Society has been a source of support to individuals and families coping with isolation, addiction, poverty, disability, and conflict. $4500.00 has been awarded to the Peace Arch Free Dental Clinic so free dental care on Friday mornings, and additionally, dental hygiene care on Friday afternoons starting in the fall can be accessed.  Basic dental care is to resume on Mondays as well.

Media Release

July 29, 2011

Surrey Community Comes Together to Provide a New Roof for All Nations Youth Safe House

(Surrey) A local company, Valhalla Roofing, recently stepped up to donate a brand new roof to Kla-how-eya ’ All Nations Youth Safe House when they heard that a replacement was needed.

Back in early April, Vera LeFranc, Coordinator of the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Fund, received a call from a previous grant recipient, Kla-how-eya,  that they needed help.  The roof on their All Nations Youth Safe House could not likely stand another winter and had to be replaced immediately.   Without enough cash available to cover such a large expense, the organization faced a potential closure if they could not raise the money.

Knowing the tight timeline, and limited grant resources available, Vera decided to send out a call to the Board of the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society.  Board member, Peter Simpson, who is also CEO of the Greater Vancouver Homebuilders Association, reached out to his contacts about their need for a new roof.  Valhalla Roofing responded,  and today they are installing a new roof on the 6 bed Youth Shelter.

Every year the All Nations Youth Safe House serves up to 160 high-risk youth, providing them with the support they need to find stable housing, enter employment programs, and develop the independence they need to remain housed over the long term.  In the 2011 Metro Vancouver Homelessness Count, Surrey had the highest number of Aboriginal homeless in the region, and an increasing number of unsheltered youth.

“It is through the generosity of people like Harold Pinter and Charun Stone at Valhalla Roofing that we can make a real difference in the lives of those affected by homelessness” said Surrey City Councilor Judy Villeneuve, who serves as President of the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society, “this is such a great example that by donating time, skills and money we can work to solve homelessness in Surrey.”

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Media Contact:

Vera LeFranc
Program Coordinator
Surrey Homelessness and Housing Fund
Email: vera_lefranc@vancity.com
Tel: 604.369.2064

The February 7th edition of Megaphone Magazine features an important article on homelessness in the suburbs. Read comments from Surrey City Councillor and board member Judy Villeneuve about the changing face of homelessness in the Metro area.

The Hidden Homeless: How municipalities are tackling increasing homelessness in the suburbs

By Jackie Wong

Megaphone is a magazine sold on the streets of Vancouver by homeless and low-income vendors. The magazine is published every two weeks. Vendors buy the paper for 75 cents and sell the magazine to customers by donation. All money from the transaction goes into the pocket of the vendor.

There are a number of events planned in Surrey during this year’s Homelessness Action Week (October 10 – 16).

October 12
What: Surrey Homelessness and Housing Fund Cheque Presentation – 2010 Annual Grants
When: 11:00am
Where: Surrey City Hall Atrium, 14245 56th Avenue, Surrey

Seven funding recipients will be announced at this year’s ceremonies.

Read more.

Today, October 12, 2010, we announced the recipients of our 2010 annual grant program. The Society is providing close to $200,000 to seven Surrey-based organizations to support projects that will help address homelessness in Surrey.

Read more.

Our 2010 Annual Report is now available!

Click here to read or print our 2010 Annual Report.

In the News

This week the Province newspaper featured a series of articles about homelessness in Surrey. Several of the projects we funded and that are now helping to improve lives are highlighted.

Read more.