2023 Courtenay Annual Report

Strengthening Communites Services Grant The Strengthening Communities’ Services Grant (SCG) awarded by the Union of BC Municipalities in 2021 is administered by the City on behalf of the Comox Valley region, and supports the response to the increased need for critical homelessness support services. To guide the use of these funds, the City established an advisory committee with the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness, Wachiay Friendship Centre, and Comox Valley Transition Society. In 2023, the City received approval for a one-year extension of the SCG and associated funds to continue to provide approved services through to June 30, 2024. As part of the extension, the City received an additional $898,603, bringing the total funding to $1,961,763. The Strengthening Communities’ Services Grant supports: • A Daytime Community Access Hub six days a week providing services focused on health, hygiene, personal safety, and administrative support to those in need. • Rural outreach on Denman and Hornby Islands to facilitate connections to housing and support services. • Staff and security at Connect for daytime services and peer outreach. • Community engagement and training.

Since its launch in 2021, the SCG has not only had significant and immediate impact on the daily health and wellness of people living without homes in the Comox Valley, it has contributed to longer term impact. In 2023 alone, nearly 73,000 interactions between service agency staff and individuals experiencing homelessness were recorded, resulting in referrals to health and social professionals, the provision of shelter, beds, food, showers and other basic needs. In that same period, 28 training sessions were held with 455 people completing the training, including 87 City staff. Eight Homelessness Society Association of BC annual memberships were purchased on behalf of local agencies to provide ongoing support and training opportunities related to supporting those who are unhoused. A sample of training programs included Managing Hostile Interactions, Not Just Naloxone, Introduction to Trauma Informed Practice, The Village Workshop, Gender Diversity in the Workplace/Community, Cultural Safety, Safe Harbour and Mental Health First Aid. The stories and metrics collected over the course of the project have been instrumental in advocacy efforts that have contributed to the establishment of a 35-bed shelter in Courtenay as well as momentum towards additional subsidized housing units, and an additional separate, purpose-built bed shelter. To learn more about the program and free training opportunties visit courtenay.ca/scgrant

City of Courtenay | 2023 Annual Report

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