The City of Kamloops is issuing a call for proposals for eligible projects under the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy (Reaching Home).

Reaching Home is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides direct funding to urban, Indigenous, rural, and remote communities to help them address their local homelessness needs. Since 2019, the Reaching Home Designated Communities funding stream has distributed over $5 million dollars to organizations in Kamloops that support programs for individuals experiencing homelessness or who are at imminent risk of homelessness.

A Community Advisory Board consisting of representatives who understand the issues, needs, and priorities of those who are experiencing homelessness sets the direction for how funding is allocated. The City, by agreement with the Government of Canada, is responsible for administering and managing the allocated funds.

This call for proposals is to allocate the Reaching Home funding available in the Designated Communities funding stream for the fiscal years 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. Reaching Home will fund activities that contribute to the program’s objectives while reflecting local realities and community needs and opportunities.

“Reaching Home funding provides financial support to local service providers to implement critical programs and services for the most vulnerable in our community,” said Natasha Hartson, the City’s Community and Emergency Supports Supervisor. “These projects include outreach work; tenancy skill development; life skills and financial literacy training; cultural services; and basic needs supports such as food, clothing, and transportation.”

For more information and to respond to the Reaching Home call for proposals, visit Kamloops.ca/Grants.

The deadline to apply is Monday, January 15, 2024, at 4:30 pm.