Y Child Interactive Centre renovated z | Page 2
your neighbourhood. your newspaper.
north shore PAYDAY LOANS & CHEQUE CASHING
Art that lasts a lifetime
BC LIC# 64061
z | Page 5
554 TRANQUILLE ROAD Volume 13 Number 42 | 50¢
Introducing the HomeFree Collective Community Awareness Campaign It only takes a short walk through town to realize that the urgency of the issues of homelessness is all around us. It is difficult to see the suffering that marginalized people are forced to live with every day. After five years, May 2015 will mark the official end of a plan to end homelessness. The steering of the Kamloops Homelessness Action Plan (HAP) has been led by the partnership between United Way, the City of Kamloops, ASK Wellness Society, Elizabeth Fry Society and Canadian Mental Health Association. Entering its final year and celebrating the successes built, HAP is ready to introduce new, formal partnerships and direction for leadership to end homelessness in our community. The work that has taken place over the last four years is due in large part to volunteer efforts from many people and the generous financial support of several organizations to help move efforts along. HAP will now join forces with the newly formed HomeFree Col-
PAYDAY LOANS & CHEQUE CAS We Cash • Government Cheques • Payroll Cheques • Post Dated Cheques • Insurance Cheques • Personal Cheques
Full of Excuses will play Friday, October 17 for Project Homelessness Connect.
lective, a group originally created in 1999 and formerly known as the Kamloops Working Group on Homelessness. This collective will become a central hub to coordinate the efforts of a multi-sector community group consisting of 150 organizations, community agencies and concerned citizens already engaged in ending homelessness. The HomeFree Collective has expanded its focus to include the work of the HAP under the umbrella of a Housing First philosophy. Housing First is a recoveryoriented approach where the client is central. It asserts that everyone deserves a safe and appropriate home and that housing should be available to everyone regardless of any other conditions. At-risk peo-
Celebrating her seventh anniversary. JENNIFER HOWE, AT CHARTWELL SINCE 2007. CHARTWELL.COM
778-470-0170 • www.easycashinc.ca
October 15, 2014
RESPITE SUITES AVAILABLE
Payday Loans please bring: • Identification • Pay stub or Proof of Income • Blank Cheque or Pre-Authorize • Bank Statements • Proof of Address
Tranquille Roadyears • 778-470-0170 www.easy ple struggling with poverty,554 policy, For nine a province wide• iniabuse, neglect, poor health and tiative has taken place and is gaining addictions are better able to move momentum in connecting homeless forward with their lives if they are and at-risk people with supports, first housed and then offered sup- coordinating local services and reportive services. The HomeFree sources and engaging communities Collective is the community body in the issues of homelessness. You dedicated to implementing this ap- can help carry out the goals and proach in Kamloops. objectives of the HomeFree Collec“The next phase will be a lot tive by engaging in Homelessness more roust and responsive,” says Action Week until Sunday, October HAP coordinator Tangie Gen- 19. This year in Kamloops over 35 shorek. “We are at a really good community agencies are working to place with our partnerships and we provide important events. have a wealth of knowledge from The ASK Wellness Homeless front-line workers. We are chang- Count 2014 is planned for October ing our working models about how 16 and 17 in partnership with the we respond so there are no mis- HomeFree Collective. The commusteps. Our strategy is to focus ener- nity is able to connect with people gy on people who are on the street living on the streets, track trends - continued on page 2 and need the support the most.”
Make us part of your story. 628 Tranquille Road, Kamloops 778-376-2001 *some conditions apply