Rural and Indigenous Funding Announced
November 3, 2025
Homelessness, News Release
November 3, 2025
Homelessness, News Release
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov 4, 2025
Edmonton, Alberta – November 4, 2025 – The federal government has allocated funding that will allow the Rural Development Network (RDN) to distribute approximately $4.8 million over the next two years to Alberta’s rural, remote, First Nation, Métis Settlement, and Métis communities through the Reaching Home Rural and Remote funding stream under Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.
As the Community Entity for the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home Rural and Remote funding stream in Alberta, the Rural Development Network is currently accepting applications through a Call for Proposals to fund projects that aim to prevent or reduce homelessness in their communities. Alberta’s rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations are eligible to apply for funding to conduct projects in 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. Projects may start as early as April 1, 2026 and end as late as March 31, 2028. Priority will be given to projects that are Indigenous led and Indigenous serving.
“Our government is taking concrete steps to address homelessness in Alberta’s rural, remote and Indigenous communities,” said the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada. “Through the Reaching Home funding stream, we are investing in projects that create lasting housing solutions for everyone who calls Alberta home. This investment from our new federal government demonstrates how we can address the core issues in our province and strengthen communities and ensure that every Albertan has a safe and secure place to call home.”
The $4.8 million in funding will be distributed to communities and organizations that aim to reduce or prevent homelessness outside of the 7 major cities in Alberta. On-reserve projects are eligible.
“While we continue to see increasing and diverse experiences of homelessness across our province, we are inspired by the resilience and innovative solutions emerging from smaller communities,” says Sydney Stenekes, RDN’s Director of Homelessness Initiatives. “We have seen firsthand the positive impact that Reaching Home funding is having in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities as they respond to homelessness.
“We are grateful to the Federal Government’s Reaching Home program for continuing to invest in these communities as they develop local solutions. The Regional Advisory Board and the Rural Development Network remain committed to reconciliation through the Reaching Home program, and will continue to prioritize funding projects that are Indigenous-led and/or Indigenous-serving.”
Eligible communities and organizations can apply through the online application form before December 8, 2025, 1:00 PM MST. To reduce barriers for First Nation and Métis Communities and Settlements who are interested in applying for funding, the Rural Development Network has developed an alternative application process under the guidance and feedback of Indigenous partners and advisors; Indigenous communities or organizations may submit a letter of intent through the online application form in lieu of a general application. Selected applicants will then be invited to partake in an oral application process.
For more information about the 2026-2028 Reaching Home Call for Proposal, or to apply for funding, visit the Rural Development Network’s website.
This program is funded by the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.
For more information, please contact:
MEDIA CONTACT :
Sydney Stenekes
Director, Homelessness Initiatives
1-613-986-5207
programs@ruraldevelopment.ca
ABOUT THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
The Rural Development Network is a not-for-profit that facilitates, supports, and champions rural community development through collaboration, research, and service provision. RDN supports the sustainability of rural communities and works with communities to amplify the “rural voice”. RDN collaborates to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and find innovative, rural-based solutions to unique issues.
ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA’S REACHING HOME FUNDING
Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides funding to urban, Indigenous, rural and remote communities to help them address their local homelessness needs.
Reaching Home supports the goals of the National Housing Strategy, in particular, to support the most vulnerable Canadians in maintaining safe, stable and affordable housing and to reduce chronic homelessness.
Canada – August 2025
RDN is set to launch its Provincial Housing & Service Needs Estimation this October, a critical initiative aimed at better understanding housing insecurity across the province. From October 1 to 31, 2025, 21 organizations and municipalities representing over 64 rural, remote, and Indigenous communities will participate in collecting localized and regionalized data to build a comprehensive picture of housing insecurity and service needs across the province.
This collaborative effort marks the fourth iteration of the estimation and reflects a continued need for current, accurate, and meaningful data on housing insecurity and service needs in communities and across the province. The process supports the development of responsive, evidence-based solutions tailored to local realities, while also contributing to a broader understanding at the provincial and national levels.
The initiative is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, a program committed to reducing and preventing homelessness nationwide, the Tenaquip Foundation, and the Catherine Donnelly Foundation.
“By working together across rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, we’re able to capture and highlight the diverse experiences of housing insecurity in Alberta. This data is essential to influencing policy, practices, and funding decisions on housing insecurity while also shaping service provisions in the community,” said Emma Wallace, Program Manager of Community Development and Homelessness Estimations at RDN.
A wrap-up event is planned for Spring 2026, where findings will be shared publicly and used to inform community planning, funding strategies, and policy development at all levels.
Participating Communities Include:
Athabasca, Barrhead, Bow Valley, Camrose, County of Grande Prairie, Drayton Valley, Driftpile Cree Nation, Foothills, Frog Lake First Nation, Hinton, Kneehill County, Lac La Biche, Lloydminster, Peace River, Rocky Mountain House, St. Albert & Sturgeon County, Sundre, Taber, Tri-Region, Westlock, and Whitecourt.
To learn more about the project, please contact the project lead, Emma Wallace, at emmaw@ruraldevelopment.ca
ABOUT THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
We are a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
Media Contacts:
| Melissa Fougere Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Senior Manager, Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
TO ALL OF OUR RDN FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES:
Following an extensive search process, the Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Melissa Fougere as RDN’s Chief Executive Officer as of July 28th, 2025.
Melissa brings over 17 years of nonprofit leadership experience, including senior roles with the Canadian Red Cross, where she led initiatives in emergency management, community resilience, and strategic operations. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Community Studies from Cape Breton University and a Graduate degree in Disaster & Emergency Management from Royal Roads University. Throughout her career, Melissa has championed collaboration and work with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, helping build stronger systems, increase local capacity, and drive sustainable development.
The Board is confident that Melissa’s vision, dedication, and experience will be instrumental in her new role.
Melissa succeeds Lisa as RDN’s CEO, and we are grateful for her contributions and commitment to furthering RDN’s mission in supporting rural communities. Her last day will be July 31, 2025.
“I’m incredibly honoured to join RDN at a time when rural communities are facing both immense challenges and big opportunities. Together with this talented team, I’m committed to helping rural communities thrive, adapt, and stay strong in the face of change — because Rural Communities are Stronger Together.” – Melissa Fougere
Please join us in welcoming Melissa to her new role as CEO! We are confident that her leadership will propel RDN forward as we continue to build community capacity in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Canada.
After many years with the Rural Development Network, our CEO, Lisa Bélanger, has announced that she will be moving on from her role. While we’re sad to see her go, we’re incredibly grateful for everything Lisa has poured into RDN over the years. Her leadership, passion, and deep care for rural communities have left a lasting mark on all of us.
Lisa has helped shape RDN into the strong, values-driven organization it is today. Thanks to her vision and the amazing team she’s helped build, we’re in a great position to keep moving forward and growing.
We’re now beginning the search for RDN’s next CEO. If you—or someone you know—would be a great fit, you can find the full job posting here: https://ruraldevelopment.ca/get-involved/careers
For Immediate Release- Feb 19, 2025
ALBERTA — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) has partnered with Big Lakes County to collaboratively explore locally-informed solutions that will enable diverse housing development in their community.
SHI is working to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in northern Alberta communities through its Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
The purpose of this project partnership is to perform extensive research on the challenges and opportunities that currently exist within Big Lakes County’s housing landscape. Findings from this research will assist in responding to the diverse housing demands that emerge from Big Lakes County.
“The Enabling Housing Choice North project is a unique opportunity to respond to the housing challenges facing communities in northern Alberta,” says Lisa Belanger, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Development Network. “We are excited to work with Big Lakes County to research and identify solutions that promote affordable and diverse housing options. This partnership highlights the importance of local input and collaboration in addressing complex housing needs.”
Big Lakes County is proud to be part of the “Enabling Housing Choice North” Project, part of the Rural Development Network’s Sustainable Housing Initiative” says Reeve, Tyler Airth. “Addressing housing needs is crucial to the well-being of our residents, and this project will help ensure that we can provide diverse, affordable, and sustainable housing options for years to come. As part of Council’s Strategic Plan, we are committed to being a place where people want to live and can afford to live, while also fostering sustainable economic growth. Diverse housing is a key component of this vision. Partnering with RDN and the “Enabling Housing Choice North” Project allows us to invest in a more sustainable future for Big Lakes County.
Project Goals:
About RDN: The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
About AREF:: Created through the Real Estate Act, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization that supports and strengthens Alberta’s real estate industry and benefits Albertans. Through strategic investments, we fund projects across a diverse range of initiatives designed to bolster the work of the industry, government, and our land and built environments.
Media Contacts:
| Lisa Belanger Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Manager of Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
For Immediate Release- Feb 11,2025
ALBERTA — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) has partnered with Lac Cardinal Country to collaboratively explore locally-informed solutions that will enable diverse housing development in their community.
SHI is working to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in northern Alberta communities through its Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
“Recognizing the need to support Municipalities in their effort to accommodate a greater diversity of housing types to meet resident needs, we are pleased to partner with the Rural Development Network and Lac Cardinal Country on this important project” says Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. “The Enabling Housing Choice North Project aims to drive long-term policy change in Alberta’s rural communities to support long-term resiliency. We are honoured to support this critical effort.”
The purpose of this project partnership is to perform extensive research on the challenges and opportunities that currently exist within Lac Cardinal Country’s housing landscape. Findings from this research will assist in responding to the diverse housing demands that emerge from Lac Cardinal Country.
The Enabling Housing Choice North Project is a pivotal initiative to address the unique housing needs of northern Alberta communities,” says Lisa Belanger, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Development Network. “We are delighted to work alongside Lac Cardinal Country to identify opportunities for increasing housing diversity and sustainability. By combining research with community collaboration, this partnership will pave the way for locally-informed solutions to meet the region’s evolving housing demands”.
“Lac Cardinal Country is excited to partner with the Rural Development Network allowing us to address the diverse and evolving housing needs of our communities, through the Sustainable Housing Initiative on the Enabling Housing Choice North Project, expressed Dave Allen, Chair of Lac Cardinal Economic Development Board. “This collaboration will ensure that our residents, irrespective of their income or background, have access to safe, affordable, and suitable housing options. This partnership will provide a more targeted approach to tackling issues such as housing shortages, affordability gaps, and the demand for housing that meet the needs of different demographics. When people have access to good housing, it encourages community growth, attracts new residents or businesses, and improves overall quality of life.”
Project Goals:
About RDN: The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
About AREF: Created through the Real Estate Act, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization that supports and strengthens Alberta’s real estate industry and benefits Albertans. Through strategic investments, we fund projects across a diverse range of initiatives designed to bolster the work of the industry, government, and our land and built environments.
Media Contacts:
| Lisa Belanger Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Manager of Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
For Immediate Release- January 24, 2025
ALBERTA — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) has partnered with the Town of Peace River to collaboratively explore locally-informed solutions that will enable diverse housing development in their community.
SHI is working to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in northern Alberta communities through its Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
Recognizing the need to support Municipalities in their effort to accommodate a greater diversity of housing types to meet resident needs, we are pleased to partner with the Rural Development Network and the Town of Peace River on this important project” says Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. “The Enabling Housing Choice North project aims to drive long-term policy change in Alberta’s rural communities to support long-term resiliency. We are honoured to support this critical effort.
The purpose of this project partnership is to perform extensive research on the challenges and opportunities that currently exist within Peace River’s housing landscape. Findings from this research will assist in responding to the diverse housing demands that emerge from Peace River.
“The Enabling Housing Choice North project is an impactful initiative to help improve housing diversity in northern Alberta communities, benefiting residents and fostering long-term resiliency,” says Lisa Belanger, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Development Network. “We are excited to work with the Town of Peace River to support the community in developing more housing diversity through research and planning, and to incorporate these strategies into the Guidebook that serves as a resource for communities across the country.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the Rural Development Network and Sustainable Housing Initiative on the Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable insights into our community’s housing needs and explore innovative ways to meet them.” says Mayor Elaine Manzer of the Town of Peace River.
Project Goals:
About RDN: The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
Media Contacts:
| Lisa Belanger Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Manager of Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
For Immediate Release- January 20, 2025
ENABLING HOUSING CHOICE NORTH PROJECT IN FAIRVIEW
ALBERTA — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) has partnered with the Town of Fairview to collaboratively explore locally-informed solutions that will enable diverse housing development in their community.
SHI is working to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in northern Alberta communities through its Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
“Recognizing the need to support Municipalities in their effort to accommodate a greater diversity of housing types to meet resident needs, we are pleased to partner with the Rural Development Network and the Town of Fairview on this important project” says Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. “The Enabling Housing Choice North Project aims to drive long-term policy change in Alberta’s rural communities to support long-term resiliency. We are honoured to support this critical effort.”
The purpose of this project partnership is to perform extensive research on the challenges and opportunities that currently exist within Fairview’s housing landscape. Findings from this research will assist in responding to the diverse housing demands that emerge from Fairview.
“Improving housing choice and diversity is essential to building resilient and thriving communities,” says Lisa Belanger, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Development Network. “Through the Enabling Housing Choice North project, we are proud to partner with the Town of Fairview to identify effective approaches to meet the housing needs of current and future residents. This collaborative effort will help inform strategies for the community, and be incorporated into the Guidebook as a resource for communities across the country”.
We are thrilled to partner with the Rural Development Network on this project,” says Chair Paul Buck of the Fairview Economic Development Committee. “As our community grows, it is essential that we expand housing options to meet the diverse needs of our residents. This initiative not only supports increased housing choice, but also fosters economic development and long-term growth for Fairview. We are confident that the insights gained from this project will strengthen our community and contribute to a thriving future.
Project Goals:
To identify opportunities for enabling housing choice in Fairview through research and analysis
To understand what housing typology best serves the needs of the community
To increase affordable and diverse housing availability in Fairview
About RDN: The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
About AREF: Created through the Real Estate Act, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization that supports and strengthens Alberta’s real estate industry and benefits Albertans. Through strategic investments, we fund projects across a diverse range of initiatives designed to bolster the work of the industry, government, and our land and built environments.
Media Contacts:
| Lisa Belanger Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Manager of Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
Canada – March 26, 2024
The Rural Development Network and Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association are thrilled to announce the launch of the Shelter Pulse Database – an online database of research-based, trauma-informed policies and procedures for violence against women shelters across the country. Through the partnership between Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association and Rural Development Network, and conversations with rural women’s shelters across Canada, we identified a need for increased capacity in policy development and maintenance, specifically focusing on trauma-informed and feminist lenses.
“The Shelter Pulse Database project enabled rural and remote shelters to work together in providing trauma-informed policies and procedures for violence against women shelters in Canada. The experts from the field that gathered to share their knowledge to the Shelter Pulse Database make this new tool invaluable. Under the leadership of the Rural Development Network, many partner shelters contributed to the outcome”, says Cindy Easton, Executive Director of the Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association.
This project recognizes that many rural and remote women’s shelters face barriers beyond their control as they struggle with small budgets and less staff capacity, resulting in administrative work often taking a back seat to support community members accessing services. Aimed to fill this gap in capacity, the Shelter Pulse Database is a comprehensive resource designed to provide women’s shelters with easy access to essential policies and procedures. Developed in collaboration with those in the shelter/Violence Against Women (VAW) sector, this database offers a wealth of current best and promising practices and information to help enhance their operations and support services.
Lisa Bélanger, CEO of the Rural Development Network, explains, “Rural communities and organizations often face unique barriers and capacity challenges. Our goal with this project has been to build the capacity of rural women’s shelters by creating this policy database, and we are so thankful for all the partners that have contributed to make this impactful resource a reality.”
The Shelter Pulse Database is unique for a couple of reasons: (1) it is a platform for those working in the shelter/VAW sector to work and collaborate, and (2) it has customizable policy and procedure templates that are downloadable into editable Word documents. This allows shelters across Canada to align every policy and procedure with the distinct needs and circumstances of the organization and community in which they serve. Equally significant is the database’s capacity to receive real-time feedback on individual policies and procedures via adjacent comment boxes, ensuring that regular updates and additions are considered and relevant resources can be easily shared.
If you work in women’s shelters or the gender-based violence sector, you are invited to check out the database and create an account at www.shelterpulse.ca.
For more information, please contact:
MEDIA CONTACT:
Mary McGuire
Project Manager
587-792-2282
Lisa Bélanger
CEO
587-792-2199
ABOUT THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
RDN is a not-for-profit that facilitates, supports, and champions rural community development through collaboration, research, and service provision. RDN supports the sustainability of rural communities and works with communities to amplify the “rural voice”. RDN collaborates to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and find innovative, rural-based solutions to unique issues.
ABOUT MOUNTAIN ROSE WOMEN’S SHELTER ASSOCIATION
Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association (MRWSA) was incorporated in 1990 and since that time provides services to women and children who are in immediate need of safety and security due to domestic/family violence. MRWSA’s mission is to provide resources and support to individuals and families impacted by domestic violence in West Central Alberta. Their vision is to ensure the availability of 24-hour crisis intervention, domestic violence support, resources and accommodation while promoting a non-violent society through prevention, education and awareness.
This project has been funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada.
Canada – Le 26 mars 2024
Le réseau Rural Development Network et la Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association sont heureux d’annoncer le lancement de la base de données Shelter Pulse. Cette base de données en ligne, destinée aux maisons d’hébergement pour femmes violentées de l’ensemble du pays, contient des politiques et des procédures fondées sur la recherche et tenant compte des traumatismes. Le partenariat du réseau Rural Development Network avec la Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association et les conversations avec diverses maisons d’hébergement pour femmes en régions rurales des quatre coins du Canada nous a permis de cerner un besoin d’accroissement des capacités en élaboration et en entretien de politiques, plus précisément des politiques tenant compte des traumatismes et des questions féministes.
« Le projet de base de données Shelter Pulse a permis aux maisons d’hébergement en régions rurales et éloignées de travailler ensemble pour aboutir à des politiques et à des procédures tenant compte des traumatismes, ces politiques et procédures étant destinées aux maisons d’hébergement pour femmes violentées au Canada. Les connaissances mises en commun par les spécialistes du domaine dans le but de réaliser la base de données Shelter Pulse font de ce nouvel outil une ressource d’une importance inestimable. De nombreuses maisons d’hébergement ont joué un rôle dans cette ressource, sous l’égide du réseau Rural Development Network, a déclaré Cindy Easton, directrice générale de la Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association.
Ce projet reconnaît que bien des maisons d’hébergement pour femmes font face à des obstacles indépendants de leur volonté, disposent de budgets modestes et ont une capacité de personnel restreinte, au point où il arrive souvent que les tâches administratives soient négligées pour consacrer plus de temps aux services auxquels les membres de la communauté doivent avoir accès. La base de données Shelter Pulse a pour but de resserrer l’écart sur le plan des capacités. Cette ressource exhaustive est conçue pour aider les maisons d’hébergement pour femmes à avoir facilement accès aux politiques et aux procédures essentielles. Cette base de données, préparée en collaboration avec les intervenants du secteur des maisons d’hébergement et de la violence faite aux femmes (VFF), offre une panoplie de pratiques exemplaires et prometteuses ainsi qu’une gamme d’informations visant à améliorer les opérations et les services de soutien de ce secteur.
Lisa Bélanger, cheffe de la direction du réseau Rural Development Network, explique : « Les communautés et les organisations des régions rurales font souvent face à des obstacles uniques et à des défis en matière de capacités. Avec ce projet, notre objectif consiste à renforcer les capacités des maisons d’hébergement pour femmes en régions rurales en créant une base de données de politiques. Nous sommes très reconnaissants envers tous les partenaires qui ont joué un rôle dans la réalisation de cette ressource des plus efficaces. »
La base de données Shelter Pulse est unique pour deux raisons : 1) il s’agit d’une plateforme permettant aux personnes du secteur des maisons d’hébergement et de la VFF de travailler ensemble et de collaborer; et 2) il s’agit d’une plateforme comprenant des modèles de politiques et de procédures en documents Word téléchargeables, personnalisables et modifiables. Tout cela permet aux maisons d’hébergement de l’ensemble du pays d’ajuster chaque politique et chaque procédure aux circonstances et aux besoins propres à leur organisation et à la communauté où elles évoluent. Il est aussi important de noter que cette base de données a la possibilité de recevoir des commentaires en temps réel sur les diverses politiques et procédures grâce aux cases de commentaires adjacentes, ce qui permet de considérer des mises à jour et des ajouts réguliers, en plus de favoriser le partage de ressources pertinentes en toute facilité.
Si vous travaillez dans le secteur des maisons d’hébergement pour femmes ou de la violence sexiste, nous vous invitons à jeter un coup d’œil à cette base de données et à créer un compte à www.shelterpulse.ca.
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Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec :
PERSONNE-RESSOURCES POUR LES MÉDIAS :
Mary McGuire
Gestionnaire du projet
587-792-2282
Lisa Bélanger
Cheffe de la direction
587-792-2199
AU SUJET DE RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
Le réseau Rural Development Network (RDN) est un organisme sans but lucratif qui facilite, soutient et favorise le développement communautaire rural par le biais de la collaboration, de la recherche et de la prestation de services. RDN soutient la durabilité des communautés rurales et travaille en collaboration avec les communautés dans le but d’amplifier la « voix rurale ». RDN travaille en collaboration avec les communautés pour cerner et faire valoir les enjeux ruraux, renforcer les capacités locales et trouver des solutions rurales novatrices à des enjeux uniques.
AU SUJET DE LA MOUNTAIN ROSE WOMEN’S SHELTER ASSOCIATION
La Mountain Rose Women’s Shelter Association (MRWSA) a été constituée en 1990. Depuis, elle a fourni des services aux femmes et aux enfants ayant des besoins immédiats en matière de sûreté et de sécurité en raison de la violence domestique et familiale. La mission de cette association consiste à fournir des ressources et du soutien aux personnes et aux familles touchées par la violence domestique dans le centre-ouest de l’Alberta. Sa vision consiste à faire en sorte que ses services d’intervention en cas de crise ainsi que de soutien en matière de violence domestique et d’hébergement soient disponibles 24 heures sur 24, tout en faisant la promotion d’une société sans violence par le biais de la prévention, de l’éducation et de la sensibilisation.
Ce projet a été financé par Femmes et Égalité des genres Canada.
ALBERTA – January 22, 2023 — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) is excited to announce that we have completed the 2nd Phase of the Enabling Housing Choice project, which provided recommendations for increasing housing choice in six Alberta communities.
SHI is working to support housing development that is diverse and more affordable through its Enabling Housing Choice Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
The purpose of this 2nd Phase has been to provide recommendation reports that promote housing choice and diversity in the Towns of Bow Island, Trochu, Mayerthorpe, Claresholm, and Pincher Creek, as well as the City of Airdrie. These reports have been informed by extensive research and community engagement, to better understand how the recommended changes can best address each community’s diverse housing needs.
“The Enabling Housing Choice is responding to the national housing crisis by working alongside municipalities in developing and implementing transformational policy change” says Linda Bernicki, Director of Community Development and Indigenous Engagement at RDN. “We are very excited to have completed the second phase of this project with these communities, and to help address the housing shortage in the community through transformational policy change.”
“This timely project seeks to find solutions to the housing crises being faced by municipalities across our province. As a foundation with real estate roots, we have the responsibility to explore how our funding programs can strengthen the real estate industry and can support consumers, whether as renters or homebuyers”, says Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. “We are honoured to invest in this effort to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in Albertan communities.”
Next Steps For the Enabling Housing Choice Project:
For further information about the Enabling Housing Choice Project, please visit: https://www.housingredefined.ca/enabling-housing-choice-project
For more information, please contact:
MEDIA CONTACTS
Linda Bernicki
Director of Community Development and Indigenous Engagement
lindab@ruraldevelopment.ca
Holly Udall
Marketing & Communications Manager
ABOUT THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
RDN is a not-for-profit organization that facilitates, supports, and champions rural community development through collaboration, research, and service provision. RDN supports the sustainability of rural communities and works with communities to amplify the “rural voice”. RDN collaborates to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and find innovative, rural-based solutions to unique issues.
To learn more about RDN, visit www.ruraldevelopment.ca.
ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE
In 2015, RDN created the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) in direct response to rural communities expressing their need for support in addressing the critical lack of affordable housing. This issue has not received the same attention and resources as it has in urban centres, and comes with unique challenges requiring unique solutions. The SHI conducts research, data analysis, produces housing needs assessments, business plans, financial analyses and more. This lays the groundwork necessary for projects to access funding from governments, banks, and other sources, which is often the biggest hurdle to overcome.
To learn more about SHI, visit www.housingredefined.ca.
ABOUT THE ALBERTA REAL ESTATE FOUNDATION
The Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF) was established in 1991 to advance the real estate industry and strengthen Alberta’s communities. Created under the Real Estate Act after years of discussion between industry leaders and officials in the provincial government, the Foundation started making an impact right away by funding initiatives to help educate and train real estate professionals. AREF invests in real estate policy, research, practices, and education that strengthen Alberta’s communities.
To learn more about AREF, visit https://aref.ab.ca/.
11443-143 Street,
NW Edmonton,
Alberta T5M 1V7
