COMOXVALLEYHOUSINGTASKFORCE

BUILDINGCAPACITYTOADDRESSHOMELESSNESS PROGRAMGUIDELINES

Background
WithfundingprovidedbyVancouverIslandHealthAuthority,theComoxValleybuilding communitycapacitytoaddresshomelessnessprogramoffersfinancialassistancetoregistered nonprofitorganizationstodeliverprojectsorprogramswithintheComoxValleythatbuild communitycapacitytoaddresshomelessness.Theprogramisbeingadministeredthroughthe ComoxValleyHousingTaskForce.

Whatiscapacitybuilding?

Capacitybuildingreferstoeffortsmadetoimproveadistinctgroupseffectivenessinachieving itsmissionandmakingitsustainableforthefuture.Ratherthandirectlyincreasingthenumber ofservicesprovidedorindividualsserved,capacitybuildingactivitiesfocusresourcesonthose areasthatsupportandmaintainserviceprovision.Communitiesareenabledtoseewhatskills theyhaveandtoidentifythekindofproblemstheywanttoresolvethroughcommonaction, whichmayhavethecapacitytobringtheseskillstogetherandenablethemfurther.

Whocanapply?

ProjectCriteria

Registerednonprofitorganizationsincludingcharitableorganizationsandregistered societies,oracommunitygroupsponsoredbyorpartneredwitharegisterednonprofit organization. OrganizationswhomeettheabovecriteriaandarebasedintheComoxValley. Ineligibleorganizations:Nonregisteredorganizations,privatesectorbusinessesand individuals.

Capacitybuildingandcoordinationprogramsorprojectsaddressingissuesandgapsrelatedto homelessnessandaccesstohousingandarebasedinandprovidedirectbenefitstotheComox Valley.Projectsorprogramsinclude: Programsthatworktowardsmoreaffordablehousingandimprovingconditionsforthe homeless. Programsthatcreateincreasedefficienciesthroughservicecoordinationamong organizations. Programsthatpromotecollaborationtoleverageincreasedfundingfromothersources Programsthatdelivertangibleresultstothosewhoarehomelessand/ortothosewhoare workingwiththehomeless.

ProjectCriteriaContinued
Programsthatenableimprovedornewservicestooneormoreofthefollowingtarget groups: 1.Mentallyillandaddicted,includingthoseindividualswhocannotremainsubstancefree 2.Womenwhohaveleftabusiverelationships 3.Families,includingthosewhowanttoremaintogether 4.Youthwhohaveleftfostercare(especiallythose15yearsofageandup) 5.Seniors,particularlylowerincomeseniorswhomaylivealone. Programsthatfacilitateincreasedcommunityparticipationinpursuinghomelessnessand housingsolutionsfortheComoxValley. Programsthatprovideresources(suchasresearch,publiceducationmaterial)thatwill directlysupportthecapacityoftheComoxValleycommunitytoaddresshomelessness andhousing. Also,theprojectsorprogramsmust: Becompletedwithinayearfromgrantapproval Haveclearperformancemeasurement Identifythetargetpopulationandneed Demonstratelongtermsustainabilityandfinancialviability Demonstratecollaborationandthoroughconsultationwithstakeholders Demonstratesupportfromand/orpartnershipswithotherserviceprovidersand organizationsinthecommunity Presentresultsofgrantawardstothecommunityatapublicforumcoordinatedbythe taskforce Additionally,theprogramsorprojectareencouragedtoleverageadditionalfundingfrom othersources. Ineligibleprojects: Fundraisingactivities,conferences Deficitfundingandcoreoperationalfunding Ongoingprogramfunding Administration

GrantAmount
Althoughthereisnotasetminimumormaximumperprojectthetotalamountoffunding availablefortheComoxValleybuildingcapacitytoaddresshomelessnessprogramis$75,000.

ApplicationDeadline

Applicationdeadlineis4:00pm,Tuesday,January31,2012.

ApplicationandInformation
Formoreinformationortorequestanapplication,pleasecontactShannonPickering,viaemailat shannonpickering@shaw.ca