Reaching Home (Active)

The Rural Development Network is the Reaching Home Community Entity for Rural and Remote Alberta, and is responsible for distributing this funding from the Government of Canada to rural and remote organizations and communities across the province to address and respond to homelessness. These communities include First Nation and Métis Settlement communities amongst others.

Featured Image

About the Initiative

This funding is specific to communities and organizations supporting folks in rural and remote areas, including First Nations and Métis Settlements in Alberta. On-reserve projects are also eligible. Project activities must take place outside of the “Seven Cities” in Alberta (Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, and Fort McMurray). Proposed projects must serve or target individuals and/or families who are experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness. 

The Government of Canada allocated an additional $4 million in Reaching Home dollars to the Rural Development Network to be invested across the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 fiscal years. This Call for Proposals is now CLOSED. 

Additional funding is anticipated to be available for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 fiscal years, and a Call for Proposals will be launched in late 2025 or early 2026. 

Eligible Organizations

  • not-for-profit organizations; 
  • for-profit organizations;  please reach out to RDN to confirm eligibility
  • municipalities; 
  • public health and educational institutions; 
  • provincial and territorial governments and their entities; and 
  • Indigenous organizations 

Examples of previous projects funded

  • Transition beds for people with addictions waiting to get into inpatient treatment 
  • Funding for housing support workers and outreach workers to assist folks experiencing or at risk of homelessness access housing and support services 
  • Shelter pods – purchase and retrofitting of trailers to provide emergency shelter  
  • Operational costs associated with temporary emergency mat programs/shelters 
  • Site preparation for Indigenous-led transitional housing projects  
  • Renovations of existing units and purchase of modular units for transitional supportive housing  
  • Land purchased for a new second-stage transitional shelter for women fleeing domestic violence  
  • Data collection (homelessness estimations) and community action plans  
  • Culturally appropriate mental health supports

This list is by no means exhaustive. You can find more information about the Reaching Home program here: Reaching Home Directives  

Funder

This project was funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.

Get Support

Our dedicated team is committed to supporting rural communities to help them thrive. Connect with us to explore how we can work with you.

What We Do

Check out our current projects and initiatives that support Canada’s rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. Need help in your community? We also offer a variety of services to kick-start your own projects.

View Our Work and Programs
View Our Services

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Stay up to date with funding opportunities, upcoming events, and project updates in our Rural Connector Newsletter

Learn More