The New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society supports the community of New Westminster on the traditional and ancestorial unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and the qiqéyt (Qiqéyt) nations.

OUR VISION:

A connected and compassionate community where everyone belongs.

OUR MISSION:

We Inform, Engage and Advocate to improve life for unhoused and at-risk people in New Westminster.

OUR VALUES:

• We believe everyone deserves compassion and care.
• We believe people should be involved in the decisions that impact their lives.
• We learn from our actions to continually improve.
• We believe in and advocate for culturally appropriate, inclusive, decolonizing and anti-oppressive practices.
• We help people understand complex issues.
• We believe everyone has something valuable to contribute.

HISTORY:

The New Westminster Homelessness Coalition was formed in 2005 to bring together a range of people and organizations working to address homelessness in New Westminster. In January 2012, to better meet the needs of the community, we became the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society a registered Society in British Columbia and a Canadian federally registered charity (Registered Charitable Organization #809795081 RR0001). We are currently funded by the City of New Westminster, project specific funding and the generous support of community members.

The NWHCS now includes members representing service providers, community-based organizations and all levels of government. Our member organizations deliver housing, outreach, food, job training, crisis intervention, financial assistance and youth programs, and witness first-hand the day to day challenges of poverty and homelessness in our city. We work to address the needs of the homeless, and those at risk, in New Westminster; enabling many people to permanently break the cycle of homelessness. 

We continue to support the I's on the Street program in the downtown core of New Westminster.  I’s on the Street is an award-winning outreach/support services program that engages homeless or at-risk-of-being-homeless persons into supervised employment cleaning the sidewalks/streets in front of local businesses. It is based on a proven model with 30 years of success in Metro Vancouver and is designed to serve as a “stepping stone” to regular employment. Recent short term funding (to April 30, 2024) allowed us to hire a p/t coordinator, expand this program from the downtown core to the Uptown, 12th Street and Sapperton neighbourhoods, and test what will become a fee for service model within the program accessible by non-profits and community organizations for community events. We are currently looking for long term sustainable funding.

In May 2019, the NWHCS was successful in securing City of New Westminster funding to support the implementation of the New Westminster Food Security Action Plan. This allowed us to increase the profile of local food security issues which are so intricately linked to poverty and homelessness. When Covid hit, we worked with the City to facilitate the Covid emergency food response through the establishment of food and resource hubs. Work is now underway, as part of the new Homelessness Action Strategy, to support the development of a new Food Security Action Plan.

During COVID, we also received permission from Laundry Love US  to establish the first ever Canadian Laundry Love site (Laundry Love New West) pilot to support free access to laundry. We are currently looking for a community partner who would like to continue the program.

The new City of New Westminster Homelessness Action Strategy was adopted by City Council in July 2022. The New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society has received funding to work directly with the City to support its implementation, and also co-chairs the Homelessness Action Strategy Implementation Working Group.

YOUR SUPPORT:

The New Westminster Homelessness Coalition Society believes that no person should be without a safe, secure place to call their home. Our mandate is to connect community members who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, to support services that promote client well-being through outreach and support services, and activities that engage and empower them to become self-supporting and productive. Through our strategic alliances and ongoing efforts to increase community awareness through initiatives like Homelessness Action Week (HAW) and Connect Days, we believe we can make homelessness a thing of the past. Our members, partners and supporters hard work and dedication, along with your generous support does and can make a difference!