RDN manages the Rural and Remote funding 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 that are working on homelessness projects located outside the seven major cities. We currently manage 11 active projects across the province.
RDN 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 funding 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; and funding for housing support workers to assist homeless or at-risk people in multiple communities across Alberta.
This funding has also allowed RDN to research how rural homelessness contributes to urban homelessness.
