2019/20 Meetings Scheduled meeting dates for the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society:
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Welcome to the website of the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society. The members of the NWHCS envision a world where every individual experiences a socially just quality of life.
Our long-term mission is to collaborate, educate, and act to ensure access to healthy safe housing and supportive services in New Westminster.
The Coalition incorporated in January of 2012 and became a society on May 31, 2012, in order to better succeed in our long-term mission to help those in need in New Westminster. So, officially, we are now the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society or NWHCS.
We gratefully welcome your continued support.
For all the details check out the updated flyer
Holy Trinity is also doing their famous Clothing Boutique on 55+ CONNECT Day. They are in need of seasonal clothing donations, especially things like rainwear, weather-appropriate footwear, new socks, etc. For more information on how you can help please view the flyer.
The goals of the 2020 Homeless Count are to obtain a reliable estimate on the number of people experiencing homelessness, to obtain a demographic profile of those individuals through the count survey, and to identify long-term data trends of homelessness in the region. It is extremely important for our community to be represented in these findings as Governments, funders and community agencies rely on data from homeless counts to help make informed policy and program decisions.
The Homeless Count is happening March 3rd and 4th; with the shelter count (enumerating individuals experiencing homelessness that are sheltered) taking place on the evening of March 3rd and the day time street count (enumerating individuals experiencing homelessness that are unsheltered) taking place on March 4th.
We are still in need of volunteers (4-hour shifts) to help with the count on the 4th. If you are interested, the New Westminster volunteer training is happening on Tuesday, Feb 18th from 6 pm to 8 pm at Holy Trinity Cathedral.
To register you can contact the Count Coordinator Julie via email at homeless2020@outlook.com or phone at 604.351.0160. You can also complete the volunteer application.
Are you 55+? Do you need to learn about support services in the community? Well, this is the day for you!
Come enjoy a community breakfast put on by the folks at Holy Trinity Cathedral and then wander through the gym and visit a wide variety of service provider tables. Canada Revenue Agency will also be onsite with their volunteer community tax preparers so you can even get your taxes done for FREE.
For more information, or if you are a non- profit service provider that caterers to the 55+ age group and would like to participate, contact Betina at admin@nwhomeless.ca
Thursday, Feb 27, 2020
Community Breakfast 8 to 9 am
Service Provider CONNECT Morning 9 am to noon
Holy Trinity Cathedral
514 Carnarvon St., New Westminster
The 2020 Homeless Count team is recruiting qualified volunteers for the 2020 Homeless Count in Metro Vancouver. The Count will take place throughout the region inside shelters during the evening of Tuesday, March 3, 2020 and on streets throughout the day and evening of Wednesday, March 4, 2020.
By volunteering for the Count, you are helping to gather valuable information used by governments, service providers, community groups, and funders so they can plan for appropriate programs to address homelessness and measure progress in reducing homelessness.
To complete the online application form and for more information, please go to: https://www.vancitycommunityfoundation.ca/initiatives/2020-homeless-count
What’s involved
The Homeless Count involves identifying and conducting a brief anonymous survey with people experiencing homelessness. The street survey typically involves walking, biking or driving around a neighbourhood looking for individuals to survey. The shelter survey is conducted in various shelters across the region. Shifts will be 2 to 3 hours and volunteers will be required to attend a 2-hour training session sometime between February 10 and March 2, 2020. Volunteers will work in teams of 2 and must be 19 years of age or older.
Ideal volunteers
While everyone is welcome to apply, to ensure the scientific integrity and a proper implementation of the Count we are looking for volunteers with specific skills and experience, such as:
- experience with previous homeless counts or professional/volunteer experience working with people experiencing homelessness;
- compassion, acceptance, and comfort with one-on-one conversations with people on the street;
- a non-judgmental attitude and a good sense of humour.
Background
Homeless counts have taken place in Metro Vancouver every three years since 2002 and every year in the City of Vancouver since 2010. They provide critical information on the number and characteristics of our region’s homeless population and how this population has changed over time.
The 2020 Homeless Count in Metro Vancouver is an initiative of the Reaching Home Interim Community Entity, Vancity Community Foundation and Community Advisory Board (CAB). The Homeless Count is delivered in partnership with the Indigenous Reaching Home Community Entity, the Indigenous Homelessness Steering Committee, the Council of Community Homelessness Tables, and is conducted by BC Non-Profit Housing Association.
Tickets will be available on Eventbrite until noon (Transforming the Community to Inspire Action) and some tickets will be available to purchase at the door. Doors open at 5:30 for appetizers and mingling; Program starts at 6:30.
It is going to be a great night of music, food, and inspiration!
Not to mention you can support the Coalition by taking part in the 50/50 draw, silent auction, and <$25 table!
We launched the week on Saturday with a HAW proclamation at the homelessness Awareness Community Walk which also included a Yarn bombing in Moody Park and large quantities of warm knitted items collected in the community.
Them the UGM did their famous thanksgiving community lunch; not once but twice on Thanksgiving Monday!
Today, October 15th, we saw over 60 people enjoy a Community Breakfast served by the parishioners of Holy Trinity Cathedral, community volunteers, local politicians, NW Police and local students. Then at CONNECT Day, 19 local service providers came together under one roof to provide information, food, and services to those in attendance! We saw:
- Public Health Nurses provide 43 flu shots
- BC Nurses Union and BCIT Nursing student check the blood pressure of 23 people
- 7 people have their income tax prepared – one person filing 10 years’ worth of claims!
- 4 people have their hearing tested
- Stress being relieved through massage
- Many people receive information about local services
- Lots of pie, pastries, and coffee eaten thanks to the Union Gospel Mission!
All the while we networked, chatted and were entertained by local musician Pernell Reicher!
The week is only half over and we still have:
- World Food Panel Discussion to recognize World Food Day at the River Market on Wednesday, October 16 at 7 pm.
- Transforming the Community to Inspire Change, the Coalitions annual fundraiser at the Columbia Theatre. Tickets are $75 and available through Eventbrite.
- A film screening of US & THEM at Holy Trinity Cathedral at 7 pm on Friday, October 18th. Doors open at 6 pm with free refreshments being served. FREE tickets available on Eventbrite.
Happy #HAW2019!
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