Rural Development Network Announces Reaching Home Call for Proposals totaling $1.8 Million

Funding will be awarded to rural-based communities and organizations whose efforts to tackle housing instability and homelessness have been affected by COVID-19.

Edmonton - The Rural Development Network (RDN, formerly the Alberta Rural Development Network) received an additional $1.8 million in federal Reaching Home funding this year to support communities’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. RDN is currently accepting applications to fund projects specific to meeting the needs of individuals who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless across rural and remote communities in Alberta. Activities on First Nations’ reserves and on Métis settlements are also eligible for funding.

Project activities must take place outside of the “7 Cities” in Alberta (Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Grande Prairie, Medicine Hat, and Fort McMurray). While other projects may be considered, priority will be given to projects that:

  • demonstrate immediate needs due to COVID-19 (requests for funds to be used in-case of an outbreak will not be prioritized)
  • provide basic needs services (e.g. food, transportation, hygiene, clothing)
  • help homeless with no adequate housing to self-isolate (e.g. in motels, hotels, etc.)
  • help shelters & mat programs comply with health recommendations (e.g. adding space between persons, protective barriers, sanitation, etc.)
  • connect vulnerable clients to housing placements and supports
  • focus on prevention and shelter diversion services, such as the provision of short-term financial assistance (e.g. rental arrears, utility payments) to clients who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness
  • provide mental health supports to vulnerable clients
  • connect clients to clinical and treatment services, economic integration services (e.g. income assistance, employment, job training, education) and social and community integration services
  • help purchase cleaning supplies and other personal protective equipment for front-line service providers
  • take place in communities heavily impacted by the pandemic
  • identify opportunities for integration of services and supports
  • address a demonstrated need; and
  • clearly outline capacity to deliver identified project activities
  • The purchasing of land, buildings, vehicles and renovations, including the construction or renovation of emergency shelters, transitional or permanent supportive housing and non-residential facilities (e.g. resource centres) are examples of capital projects that will be considered. Please refer to the application for more detailed information regarding capital project eligibility and requirements.

The application for the Call for Proposals, including information related to project eligibility, can be found in the links below. For capital projects, we realize more time may be needed for project planning and to obtain necessary documentation, but we ask that applicants submit an initial application by the deadline in order to be considered.

Download the full Application Form here.

Download the Sustainability Checklist here.

Projects awarded this funding must be completed no later than March 31st, 2021.
The application deadline is Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 11:59 pm Mountain Standard Time (MST).

To discuss your project idea or for more information, please contact Munira Abdulkadir (Program Coordinator) at muniraa@ruraldevelopment.ca.

This project is funded by the Government of Canada's Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy.

ADDED by

Julia Juco