Connections Newsletters
CCRC Connections May 2010New Outreach Program to Reduce Rural Poverty and Homelessness
Housing Resource Centre
September 25th, 2009
The Community Counselling and Resource Centre (CCRC) is proud to announce a new service funded by the City and County of Peterborough, and the Province on Ontario. The Consolidated Homelessness Prevention Plan (CHPP) funding will make possible an exciting, cost effective, housing outreach program called The Reducing Rural Poverty and Homelessness Project. Through this project the Housing Resource Centre (HRC), a program of the CCRC, will increase access to its services for county residents, and users of the Our Space Drop-in Centre in Peterborough. The project began in August 2009 and will continue until December 2011.
The Reducing Rural Poverty and Homelessness Project will create four Outreach Centres within existing services, and establish the County Emergency Fund. County residents are currently disadvantaged in accessing City-based services despite ongoing need. Even when clients are aware of services, program delivery may be affected by transportation issues. Through the new Outreach Centres, clients will be able to access HRC services using “Skype”, which utilizes computer technology called “voice over internet protocol”, or VoIP, and webcams. This will allow on-line face to face communication, improving the quality of client interviews when clients are unable to travel to Peterborough. The HRC has partnered with reBOOT Peterborough to provide computer equipment and technical support for each of the outreach locations. Plans are underway for a public demonstration of the technology on National Housing Day, November 22nd.
The HRC has begun implementing the project with the opening of the first Outreach Centre at the TEACH Centre in Havelock, and is in the process of identifying sites for Outreach Centres in Apsley and Buckhorn. The fourth Outreach Centre, to be located in Our Space Drop-in Centre in Peterborough, will open soon. Our Space Drop-in Centre is a relatively new service located on Murray Street in Peterborough, which is used by many low income people experiencing issues related to poverty and homelessness. Creating an Outreach Centre at this location will help the HRC to provide a more responsive service for users of this service.
The HRC’s services are targeted to assist people at risk of homelessness. We provide cost effective housing services, including housing search support, eviction prevention, housing stabilization, income support advocacy and homelessness prevention funds. Owners and tenants alike in rural areas have higher heating and utility costs, sometimes in older, poorly insulated buildings. To help manage this, the Reducing Rural Poverty and Homelessness Project has established a County Emergency Fund which, in addition to HRC’s other housing stabilization funds, will assist County residents to become or remain housed, or maintain their utilities. The fund is limited and will be available to eligible applicants while funds last. For more information about eligibility and applications for HRC housing stability funds, please contact the HRC at (705) 743-9122.
City-based organizations also struggle to deliver services to County residents due to the large geographic area, with long distances between communities, lack of public transportation, and limited resources. The Outreach Centres and technology have the potential to provide better access for clients of the HRC’s community partners. The HRC invites its community partners to explore linking their services to the Outreach Centres, and increasing their county clients’ access.
The current availability of affordable rental units in rural areas is extremely low. The HRC is working to increase the listings for housing available in rural areas of the County, and invites rural landlords to list their vacancies with our Housing Registry. This is a free service and registration can be done on-line on our website http://www.housingpeterborough.com/ or by calling the HRC at (705) 743-9122. Housing listings are made available to prospective tenants via our website, or they can receive printed listings through our office.
CCRC would like to thank the City and County of Peterborough, and the Province of Ontario for their generous financial support, without which this project would not be possible.
