More than $1 million in federal funding is coming to Nanaimo in an effort to reduce homelessness. (Pixabay)

By Spencer Sterritt

federal funding

$1M in grants open for Nanaimo and area organizations helping the most vulnerable

Jul 5, 2021 | 7:00 PM

NANAIMO — A significant amount of money is now available in funding for organizations working to reduce homelessness.

Nearly $1.1 million is available for the Nanaimo area and slightly less than $1 million is designated for the Cowichan area in federal funding, administered through the United Way.

Regional Director Signy Madden told NanaimoNewsNOW the funding through the Reaching Home program is specifically for organizations tackling homelessness.

“I can see we’ll definitely get requests and funding requests for on-and-off nation services and all agencies providing services in the downtown core. We anticipate our local agencies can do some pretty good programming and understand what are the needs.”

The funding is split roughly 50/50 in being designated for on-or-off Indigenous nations.

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Applications are open online until July 23 for programs and initiatives running until early 2022.

Madden said the success of funded programs will help draw more federal funding to the area.

This includes a new Point-In-Time count of Nanaimo’s homeless, which Madden said could happen next spring.

“We know the numbers have maybe doubled since the last count 16 months ago. We’d like to make the case federally for this $2 million to continue federally for another two years because we know the need is there.”

The Nanaimo area already received roughly $1 million from the federal Reaching Home fund, which began in the fall of 2020.

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt