Reach Child and Youth Development Society has secured $21,000 to support Delta Housing Be Mine Society, a grass roots non-profit organization that advocates for affordable and inclusive housing opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in Delta.
The money comes via the Community Prosperity Fund (CPF), granted through the Delta Community Foundation. While the Vancouver Foundation administers the fund overall, the Delta Community Foundation is tasked with reviewing applications at the local level to decide which Delta-serving non-profits would have the greatest impact using the money.
The CPF is a multi-year program granting $25 million to community foundations across B.C. for them to support organizations in their community that are making significant strides in areas such as education, health, arts and culture, food security, accessibility, seniors, and children and youth. The fund's unique structure allows communities and charities to decide how best to use the money, supporting both operational expenses and project delivery costs.
"The Delta Community Foundation is happy to support such an important initiative in our community. We, as a foundation, are here to support the various charities of Delta and are so pleased to assist the great work being done by Delta Housing Be Mine Society," Delta Community Foundation president and board chair Gillian Lowrey said in a Reach Society press release.
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Applying for the CPF grant aligned with Reach's vision and belief in communities where everyone is welcome and living well, the release said, noting many of the young people seeking inclusive housing through Delta Housing Be Mine Society are graduates of Reach Society programs and services.
“Being able to live as independently as possible is so important to everyone’s quality of life, and Reach is grateful to Delta Housing Be Mine for its advocacy work towards this important end goal for individuals with disabilities” Reach executive director Renie D’Aquila said in a press release.
Recently, Affordable Housing Societies committed to renting 10 units in its Evergreen Court Apartments development in Ladner to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at a subsidized rate. The milestone was achieved through collaborative partnerships with Delta Housing Be Mine Society, Affordable Housing Societies, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, BC Housing and the City of Delta.
"Together, we have taken significant steps toward creating homes where inclusion thrives and communities where everyone belongs. Let’s carry this momentum forward, strengthening partnerships and building a future where every individual has a place to call home,” Housing Be Mine president and founder Shirley-Ann Reid said in a press release, noting the 12-year-old society is actively seeking new directors to sit on its board.
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