Our Vision

A world where every individual experiences a socially just quality of life.

Our Mission:

To collaborate, educate, and act to ensure access to healthy safe housing and supportive services in New Westminster.

History:

The New Westminster Homelessness Coalition was formed in 2005 to bring together a range of people and organizations working to address homelessness in New Westminster. The Coalition incorporated in January 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. In 2016, we updated our strategic plan to address homeless issues more effectively. Many of our members also supported the City in developing a new Homelessness Action Strategy (2022).

The NWHCS members represent service providers, faith and community-based organizations, community members and all levels of government. The coalition is funded by the City of New Westminster, project specific funding, and donations from community members.

Our member organizations deliver housing, outreach, food, job training, crisis intervention, financial assistance and youth programs, and witness first-hand the day to day challenges of poverty and homelessness in our city. We continue to work on addressing the needs of the homeless and those at-risk in New Westminster; enabling many people to permanently break the cycle of homelessness.

In May 2019, the NWHCS was successful in securing City of New Westminster funding to support the implementation of the New Westminster Food Security Action Plan. This work has increased the profile of local food security issues which are so intricately linked to poverty and homelessness. When the pandemic struck, we worked with the City to support the Covid emergency food response establishing Food and Resource Hubs in Sapperton, the Brow of the Hill, the West end, and Queensborough, extending our reach from the downtown core.

In July 2022, a new Homelessness Action Strategy was adopted by City Council. The NWHCS will be working in partnership with the City to Implement it. This work will also include the development of a New Food Security Action Plan.

Through our strategic alliances and ongoing efforts to increase community awareness through initiatives like Homelessness Action Week (HAW), Laundry Love New West, Connect Days, World Food Day, etc. we believe that as a community we can work together to make homelessness a thing of the past. We thank our members and partners for their hard work and dedication and look forward to continuing to work together to support our community.

Our work is made possible by people like you. If you like to donate to support our work, please click here

Our Members, Partners and Supporters:

BC Poverty Reduction CoalitionNew Westminster Public Library
CAN (Community Action Network) New WestminsterPeter Julian MP
Don’t go Hungry Food Support ProgramSt. Barnabas Anglican Church
Douglas CollegeSt. Vincent DePaul Society
Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater VancouverSalvation Army, Stevenson House
Fraser HealthSanctuary on 6th
Fraserside Community Services, New Leaf Club HouseSenior Services Society of B.C.
Greater Vancouver FoodbankShiloh-5th Avenue United Church
Greens and BeansSpirit of the Children Society
Holy Trinity Anglican CathedralUnion Gospel Mission
Lookout Housing and Health SocietyUniversity of BC, Faculty of Dentistry
Lower Mainland Purpose SocietyWestcoast Genesis Society
New Westminster Museum and ArchivesWorkBC, New Westminster



Our Sponsors:
City of New Westminster
Downtown BIA
Sparc BC
VanCity
Community Members

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