City continues investments in Community Safety Partnerships

News Release

As community safety remains the City’s number one priority in 2022, Council approved a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with 100 More Homes at today’s City Council Regular Meeting.

“We have heard from our local not-for-profits and partners that they want a stronger relationship with the City,” said the City’s Director of Development Services, Blake Laven. “The City wants to see similar progress that other communities across Canada are seeing in terms of decreases in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness. This is an important step to support 100 More Homes in providing the local leadership necessary to move in this direction.” 

The agreement will see the City provide up to $85,000 per year for 100 More Homes to hire a coordinator and other areas of investment. The coordinator will lead the community’s efforts in participating in the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness’s Built for Zero initiative. The initiative helps communities develop a local approach that will decrease homelessness in their community.

Additionally, 100 More Homes has the support of the City of Penticton to submit a future application to the Government of Canada for designated federal homelessness funding. This federal funding would provide 100 More Homes with guaranteed annual funding to invest in new community programs and services that align with community priorities. 

“Status quo for individuals experiencing homelessness in the community is no longer an option,” said Mayor John Vassilaki. “As Council heard today, we require a new approach as a community. Working with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, and applying for Government of Canada designated funding are two important steps we must take as a community. We thank 100 More Homes for stepping up to provide this leadership in Penticton.” 

The 100 More Homes’ MOU aligns with other investments the City of Penticton is making in partnerships to support community safety. These include:

  • A three-year agreement with the Penticton Community Action Team to understand what substance use services are available in the region,
  • An agreement with HelpSeeker and community groups to enhance access to services in the community through navigation technology,
  • Commitments to move forward with recommendations in Penticton’s youth homelessness report, No Where to Go 
  • Applying for a grant from the Union of BC Municipalities to support the coordination and capacity of community services and programs, and a Community Mobilizer role to the Social Development department, and
  • Continuing to lead the Safety Resource Review, with findings to be presented in the coming months. 
     
Contacts:

Blake Laven
Director of Development Services
City of Penticton
250-490-2528

Philip Cooper
Communication Manager
City of Penticton
250-490-2583