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Couple establishes fund to help homeless

As the cold winter months begin to settle in to the Comox Valley, the plight of people who are homeless becomes critical.

As the cold winter months begin to settle in to the Comox Valley, the plight of people who are homeless becomes critical.

While there is no one factor that causes homelessness, a prominent local couple have established a special fund with the Comox Valley Community Foundation to help raise money to be held in perpetuity, where the annual income will provide some relief.

They felt that although there are numerous organizations trying to support the homeless, these organizations need support in order to fulfill their missions. They understand that the problem cannot be solved overnight or in the near future, but they believe we can move towards ending it, especially here in the Comox Valley where our very name means Land of Plenty.

While the fund was established some months ago, without fanfare, it has grown substantially since it was established.

“People have found out about it by word of mouth,” said Andrea Rowe, president of the Community Foundation.

“The whole idea of creating a fund that focuses on supporting and working towards a solution to the homelessness issue has certainly struck the right chord in the community to the point where it has almost tripled the dollars that are currently available for investment. We expect it to continue to grow as more and more people become aware of its existence,” said Rowe.

These funds will be held in perpetuity by the Foundation. By investing the capital, the CVCF can generate revenue on an annual basis to provide financial support for, as in the case of the Help the Homeless Fund, those who are seeking solutions.

As anyone can contribute to these special funds they continue to grow, providing greater opportunities to increase the amount of dollars available each year.

With the cold weather upon us, it becomes increasingly important to provide support for people in our community who are struggling with this issue. A study published jointly by the Canadian Homelessness Research Network and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness recommended that it was essential for communities to develop plans to end homelessness.

The report also said that, to tackle homelessness, we must understand how structural factors, systems failures and individual and relational factors interact to create the problem. Why people become homeless is a complex question. The answers are as unique as the people who have to deal with the situation on a daily basis.

The founders of this fund hope that the Help the Homeless Fund can help now and in the future through grants to those with a passion and a plan to address both the effects and causes of homelessness.

For further information on how you can help support the Help the Homeless Fund and receive a Tax Receipt for your contribution or to find out more about the Comox Valley Community Foundation, visit the Foundation’s website at cvcfoundation.org.

— Comox Valley Community Foundation