Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness
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- Published on Sunday, 26 April 2015 15:17
- Written by editor
The Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH)
Website: http://aboriginalhomelessness.ca/
About: The Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH) works collaboratively with the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness to create a culturally-specific approach to Aboriginal (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) homelessness on the traditional Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwakwaka’wakw territories.
Evan James designed our logo; a representation of our work, symbolized by the Coast Salish Big House. The four posts of the Big House are the foundation and the strategies that guide us:
- Housing & Shelter
- Governance, Policy & Resources
- Community-Building
- Support Services
ACEH is an island-wide coalition that creates a space for the voices of Aboriginal community members who are experiencing homelessness. We are committed to ending Aboriginal homelessness on our traditional territories.
Guiding Vision:
Our way is to care for all of our people, from the youngest to the oldest. We are all one. Some of our people living away from home are suffering, isolated, and experiencing homelessness. We stand together to end homelessness.
RECENT POSTS
- Meetings with Community Members: Preparation for the Gathering
- Breakfast Hosted by Island Health
- Gathering: Drum Signing Ceremony
- Community-Building Meals
- Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness is Created
About
The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness (Coalition) was created in 2008 with a mandate to end homelessness in Greater Victoria. In that role it works primarily in the areas of research, communications, advocacy and policy planning.
Since its inception the Coalition has been tasked to bring an Aboriginal voice to address housing and homelessness. This is important because more than 30% of those experiencing homelessness in the region come from an indigenous background. Unfortunately, the Coalition has lacked both the expertise and knowledge to develop an appropriate Aboriginal strategy on its own.
This initiative began in May 2014 and the Coalition took the first step towards bringing an Aboriginal voice to this important issue and contracted Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi as the Coordinator of Aboriginal Housing & Homelessness, and the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH) was created. A Planning Group was established, comprised of Aboriginal organizations & service providers, representatives from Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwakwaka’wakw Nations, as well as community leaders. Participants in these meetings have come to the conclusion that the most appropriate course of action is the creation of a separate ACEH that will work collaboratively with the existing Coalition.
Therefore, these recommendations are being presented to the Coalition’s Leadership Council:
- That the Coalition supports the creation of an island-wide Aboriginal Coalition to end homelessness.
- That the Coalition collaborates with the ACEH in terms of regional implementations of goals, including; a) housing/shelter; b) governance, policy and resources; c) community building; and d) support services. These four principles are applied to a Coast Salish Big House structure, each one being a post that holds the Big House up.
Guiding Vision:
Our way is to care for all of our people, from the youngest to the oldest. We are all one. Some of our people living away from home are suffering, isolated, and homeless. We stand together to end homelessness.
Resources
Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness
Greater Victoria Street Survival Guide: A one-stop resource for those experiencing (or at risk of) homelessness in Victoria (Coast Salish territory) created by a group of dedicated individuals with street-life experience. With the knowledge of (and access to) the resources listed in the Guide, we hope those experiencing or at risk of homelessness may be able to move on from homelessness faster than previously possible.
Victoria Community Organizations: List of health/treatment services, skills-building services, as well as shelters, housing, and meal supports in Greater Victoria (Coast Salish territory).
Victoria Native Friendship Centre: Provides services to Aboriginal people in the Greater Victoria community (Coast Salish territory).
A Guide to Aboriginal Organizations and Services in BC: A guide to the province’s Aboriginal organizations, services, resources, networks, and communities.
PovNet: An online anti-poverty community resource.