By Mike Archer and Nancy Weisz. Although the Abbotsford Dignitarian Society (Abby Digs) put out many requests for letters of support and collaboration, we have only received a very few – mostly from individuals. We need more letters from individuals, businesses, agencies, organizations, church leaders etc. in order to have a chance at the grant for which we are applying.
We need to have a show of support to let Vancity know this is a priority project in Abbotsford and we have community backing and, based on the groundwell of support for the ACS/BCHousing proposal, we’re sure there are many of you who support what we are trying to accomplish with the Dignity Village style housing project we are building at Valley Road.
Please take a few moments to show us you support us in trying to find a workable solution for the homeless men and women of Abbotsford who are unable to to find housing in the shelters and with the options we have to offer in this City.
Simply fill out one of the letters below and send it to us at info@abbotsfordhomeless.com.
Thank You.
The Abbotsford Dignitarian Society (Abby Digs) was formed with $10,000 in seed money from the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association (ADBA) and is chaired by former ADBA president Paul MacLeod. A total of 18 directors from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life and including seven homeless men and women make up the Society which is devoted to addressing the needs of the homeless in Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley and coming up with workable solutions.
Along with trying to address the immediate daily needs of the homeless community such as food and water, toilets and basic services, several members of Abby Digs have been working on a housing proposal which they hope to see started this summer on a 5 acre parcel of privately-owned land near the transfer station off of the Abbotsford-Mission highway.
In order to apply for grants and access much-needed funding for the project, the directors have been requesting letters of support from citizens, community organizations and supporters.
Below you will find two sample od those letters. If you click on the links you will be able to download a PDF version of each letter. To find out more please go to abbotsfordhomeless.com. If you choose to fill one out please send it to via email to: .info@abbotsfordhomeless.com
Request for Letters of Support
Dear Community Members and Organizations,
Abbotsford Dignitarian Society is in the process of applying for grants in order to pursue the development of two acres at 33725 Valley Road as a village to house currently homeless individuals.Our mandate as a non-profit society is to operate for the following purposes:
– To educate and create community partnerships to further solutions for homelessness
– To enhance human dignity and respect by providing housing solutions for all regardless of religious belief, substance use, addiction, illness, disability, economic disadvantage, criminal record, and health status, both physical and mental
– To consult with all stakeholder groups with regard to the social and economies issues of homelessness and to promote and advocate solutions to homelessness
– To implement solutions to homelessness including the raising of funds, entering into contracts, and purchasing of assets, which could include the creation of structured camping areas which would provide services and amenities for residents
– To develop, implement, promote housing options for marginalized persons in homelessness or at risk of homelessness through multiple strategic approaches to respond to the spectrum of housing needsThe proposed village on Valley Road intends to provide secure housing for 20-25 people in its first phase of development, and housing for another 20 people in its second phase of development. We at Abbotsford Dignitarian Society (ADS) fully understand that there will be challenges and complexities, and rather than take on these challenges under our own name, we wish to partner with existing community service organizations that already have established reputations and relationships within the community and with the affected homeless population.
Homelessness costs Canadians $1.4 billion per year, according to Mental Health Commission of Canada’s At Home study. The study also found that investing in supportive housing is less costly (between $13,000-18,000) than institutional responses traditionally utilized, such as prisons and hospitals (between $66,000-120,000 annually.
We are requesting a letter of support from all of Abbotsford’s community service organizations, interested companies, politicians, community members, and religious organizations, simply stating what it is that your organization supports in what Abbotsford Dignitarian Society is doing and will do.
To attend a presentation discussing all the statistics, facts, studies, proposals, and details behind ADS’s mandate, please contact us as listed above.
Sincerely,
Paul MacLeod
President
Kayla Feenstra
Writer, Grants, Planning Committee Director
Request for Collaboration from Comm Orgs
Dear Community Organizations and Public Service Branches,
Abbotsford Dignitarian Society is in the process of applying for grants in order to pursue the development of two
acres at 33725 Valley Road as a village to house currently homeless individuals.Our mandate as a non-profit society is to operate for the following purposes:
– To educate and create community partnerships to further solutions for homelessness
– To enhance human dignity and respect by providing housing solutions for all regardless of religious
belief, substance use, addiction, illness, disability, economic disadvantage, criminal record, and health
status, both physical and mentalThe proposed village on Valley Road will provide secure housing for 20-25 people in its first phase of
development, and housing for another 20 people in its second phase of development. We at Abbotsford
Dignitarian Society (ADS) have recognized the need that the homeless community has for community services,
such as the following:
– obtaining legal identification, Social Insurance Numbers, birth certificates, etc
– obtaining driver’s licenses
– getting connected with both medical and mental health service providers,
– getting connected with counsellors
– attending educational workshops and seminars
– receiving job training, such as WorkSafe, Food Safe, First Aid, computer skills, or other entry-level job
training
– finishing high school or upgrading courses needed to pursue further education
– getting connected with job placement organizations
– setting up bank accounts, budgets, and receiving financial literacy education
– getting connected for help with addictions, maladaptive behaviours, traumas, drug use, mental health,
spiritual needs, etcAbbotsford Dignitarian Society wishes to partner with established service organizations in both the public and
private sector, and we are excited to be a bridge in the housing gap that will allow motivated individuals the
safety and the space to get back on their feet again and begin to go after long-lost dreams. If your organization
wishes to support the homeless population in Abbotsford in any of the above ways (or in ways not listed as
well), please contact us. We request a letter on your organization’s letterhead stating how your organization
would be willing to bridge with us, and what services your organization would be willing to provide.To attend a presentation discussing all the statistics, facts, studies, proposals, and details behind ADS’s mandate,
please visit our website at www.abbotsfordhomeless.com or contact us as listed above.Sincerely,
Paul MacLeod
President
Kayla Feenstra
Writer, Grants, Planning Committees Director