PHC launching Guardian Project “Everyone deserves a Home”
Kathryn Molloy
PHC Executive Director
Monday, March 1 2010
In the past twelve months, the need for appropriate and affordable housing has been amplified by the economic crisis. This island is suffering with businesses closing, reduced tourism and lower sales at local businesses.
At PHC we are hearing more often about people living in garden sheds, shacks with no running water or toilet facilities or worse, people sleeping in the woods.
Single parents are fearful of having their utilities shut off due to lack of payment. They have no firewood in the cold winter months and often their children are not having their basic needs met because rental costs are so high.
Many of our clients face multiple barriers (mental illness, drug addiction, physical disabilities, etc.) and the lack of safe and healthy housing exacerbates these problems, where a warm abode may be just the medicine needed.
So how do we hope to solve some of these problems?
PHC is initiating The Gabriola Guardian Project – Everyone Deserves a Home.
We would like to offer a couple of solutions to those who are under resourced in our community and we need your help.
The board of PHC has initiated an emergency fund to help with utility payments, buying firewood, potable water and sometimes helping with damage deposits. We will pay directly to the supplier and hope to keep the fund revolving for the use of many. Our goal is a $2,500 fund. An anonymous donor kicked it off with a generous gift of $500. If you’d like to donate to this fund, please call Kathryn at 250.247.7311.
The second project is to build a CONFIDENTIAL database of affordable housing options. Please let us know if you have an affordable rental that you’d like to add to our database. We’ll try to match you up with appropriate tenants and support them with donated household goods (furniture, towels, blankets, etc.).
Just this last week I’ve been contacted to help three families in immediate need of affordable housing; a single mom of three, young parents and their toddler and a single woman.
Please consider being a part of PHCs Circle of Care and help end homelessness on this island by supporting the Gabriola Guardian Project.
Call Kathryn for more details 250.247.7311
Notice: Income less than $25,000 this year? Need help with your taxes? Get them done for free at PHC. Call to make an appointment – 250.247.7311
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