Outreach worker gets more funding

By Dan Hilborn
Published May 27, 2006


Burnaby's homeless outreach worker will be able to continue her work helping to get people off the streets thanks to a recent funding commitment from B.C. Housing.

"We are grateful and excited to learn that B.C. Housing recognizes the value of the work the outreach worker has been involved with in Burnaby and we intend to continue working with other members of the Burnaby Homelessness Task Force to seek long- term solutions to homelessness," said Lynn Wood, executive director of the Progressive Housing Society, in an e-mail to the Burnaby NOW.

Since the position was created last year, the outreach worker has been in contact with 160 clients, including 56 children in 25 families, all of whom are either living on the street or are at risk of becoming homeless.

Wood is now seeking other sources of funds to provide operational costs for the worker, bus tickets for its clients and other supports. Discussion for further funds are underway with the Canadian Mental Health Association, the national Raising the Roof campaign and the B.C. Gaming Commission casino direct access program.

Last week, Wood said the need for homeless support is so great that her office would like to be able to provide "three or four" outreach workers around the city, plus a resource centre where people could get a meal, showers and other services.