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 Coalition | New Westminster Public Library |
| CAN (Community Action Network) New Westminster | Peter Julian MP |
| Don’t go Hungry Food Support Program | St. Barnabas Anglican Church |
| Douglas College | St. Vincent DePaul Society |
| Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver | Salvation Army, Stevenson House |
| Fraser Health | Sanctuary on 6th |
| Fraserside Community Services, New Leaf Club House | Senior Services Society of B.C. |
| Greater Vancouver Foodbank | Shiloh-5th Avenue United Church |
| Greens and Beans | Spirit of the Children Society |
| Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral | Union Gospel Mission |
| Lookout Housing and Health Society | University of BC, Faculty of Dentistry |
| Lower Mainland Purpose Society | Westcoast Genesis Society |
| New Westminster Museum and Archives | WorkBC, New Westminster |
| Our Sponsors: |
| City of New Westminster |
| Downtown BIA |
| Sparc BC |
| VanCity |
| Community Members |