The recent death of 48 year old David Omness in Beacon Hill Park reminds us just how at-risk people experiencing homelessness are. In addition to the daily trials they must face – the challenge of getting meals, a shower and just generally surviving – people experiencing homelessness face serious health issues. Continue reading
Author Archives: The Coalition
Collect for Project Connect
For too many in Greater Victoria the little essential items we take for granted are out of reach. Many are not able to afford food after paying rent – so things like toiletries or warm winter gear become luxuries. This is one of the reasons the Coalition puts on Project Connect each year.
Project Connect is a one-day service and information fair for people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. More than 45 agencies participate each year, making it a one-stop-shop for a multitude of information and services ranging from haircuts to ID replacement to pet care.
One special part of Project Connect is the Care Packs. We collect thousands of items from the community and assemble them in custom packs. Need shampoo, a razor, gloves, a scarf and a pair of nail clippers? We’ve got that. Need a toque, deodorant, toothpaste and some toilet paper? We’ve got that too! From combs and brushes to socks and toothbrushes, we provide essential items most of us don’t think twice about picking up at the store.
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What can you do to help? Host a COLLECT DRIVE!
Each of the thousands of items is generously donated by the public and now is the time to start thinking about rallying the troops and collecting. Whether at school, work, church, at the gym, or at your book club, put up a poster and start spreading the word.
Start collecting for Project Connect, print a poster:
Housing & Harm Reduction
Scientific research around the country has proven that two of the most important components of any plan to end homelessness are housing first and harm reduction. As a result we at the Coalition have made these methodologies key to our mission to end homelessness in the Capital Region. Continue reading
5 things you didn’t know about victoriahomelessness.ca
Five features on Coalition’s website victoriahomelessness.ca you may not have known about: Continue reading
Peer Support: What it means to me
This May, the Coalition had an opportunity to send Hilary Marks, the Co-Chair of the Social Inclusion Advisory Committee (SIAC), to the National Conference on Peer Support in Halifax. The National Conference on Peer Support is focused on peer support for those struggling with mental health challenges, but the Coalition saw the opportunity to apply that experience towards homelessness. Here’s a short post composed by Hilary on her experiences at the Conference and what the experience meant to her: Continue reading