The Thompson Homeless Shelter has received $247,124 from the Government of Canada. Vic Toews, president of the treasury board, on behalf of Diane Finley, minister of human resources and skills development, announced the funding as part of the federal government's Homelessness Partnering Strategy.
The money will go towards continuing the services the homeless shelter provides and spans from Nov. 29 of this year to March 31 of 2011.
Toews says it's important to the government to support the many Canadians who have housing needs and who are looking to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.
"Through this investment, the Thompson Homeless Shelter will help provide 24-hour emergency shelter and support services to 24 persons per night who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Thompson and the surrounding area," he says.
The shelter, which provides meals, laundry facilities, a clothing bank, restroom and shower facilities, as well as basic supplies for personal hygiene, also has emergency staff to help refer clients to appropriate programs or services and help find them temporary accommodation during their transition period out of the shelter.
Katie Isaac, chairperson of the Thompson Homeless Shelter, says the funding source has allowed them to focus on implementing programming for people at the shelter.
It's all part of an initiative the federal government announced in September of 2008 which allocates $1.9 million over five years for housing and homelessness programs for low-income Canadians. The Homelessness Partnering Strategy is a community-based program that provides direct support and funding to more than 60 communities all over the nation which started on April 1, 2007. The strategy receives annual funding from the federal government of $134.8 million for two years. The funding for housing and homelessness programs has also been extended by the government for another five years, until March 31, 2014.
The Thompson Homeless Shelter just underwent renovations that were funded by the Thompson Urban Aboriginal Strategy. These included extra security features, a staff office space, a new laundry room, a renovated public bathroom area for clients, a new pantry and coffee centre and additional sinks and toiletries for both men and women.
The total revenue for the Thompson Homeless Shelter this year was $459,394, and the total expenditures were $410,435, leaving an excess of revenues over expenditures of $48,959.
