The ARDN currently manages the Rural and Remote funding stream in Alberta for Reaching Home, the new federal homelessness prevention and reduction strategy that began in April 2019. We administer funding and provide support for municipalities and non-profits, located outside the seven major cities, that are working on projects designed to address rural and remote homelessness in Alberta. We currently manage 11 active projects across the province.
The ARDN has managed a total of 32 projects over five years for the predecessor to Reaching Home: the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, serving as the Community Entity for Alberta's Rural and Remote stream since 2013. Projects included a land purchase for a new second-stage transitional shelter for women fleeing domestic violence in Rocky Mountain House, transition beds in Fort Macleod for people with addictions waiting to get into inpatient treatment, pre-development funds for new transitional housing units in Banff, as well as funding housing support workers to assist homeless or at-risk people in multiple communities across Alberta.
This funding has also allowed ARDN to research how rural homelessness contributes to the urban issue.
