FORT ST. JOHN – BC Hydro provided information today on $50,000 in funding for emergency and transitional housing programs in Fort St. John. The funding includes:
- $25,000 to support the Meaope Transition House, a program that provides safe shelter, meals and short-term support to women and their children who are experiencing abuse, or who are at risk due to homelessness.
- $25,000 to support Sky’s Place, a second-stage housing program for women with children who are leaving an abusive relationship.
“We recognize the need and importance of investing in emergency and transitional housing providers in Fort St. John,” said Diane McSherry, Vice-President and Project Director, Site C. “We’re pleased to be supporting the Meaope Transition House and Sky’s Place.”
The Meaope Transition House is operated by North Peace Community Resources Society doing business as Community Bridge. Established in 1974, it is a community-based charitable organization, whose employees, volunteers and Board of Directors are members of the communities they serve.
“The $25,000 has made it possible for us to renovate our existing facility and increase our capacity to accommodate women and children who are experiencing violence and abuse,” said Karla Marsh Executive Director, Community Bridge.
Sky’s Place is operated by the Women’s Resource Society in Fort St. John. Established in 1981, the Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society is a non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of women’s lives through services and support offered through its resource centre.
“Sky’s Place is a 12-unit housing facility that provides a transitional safe refuge, for up to two years, for women with children who are restarting their lives after leaving abusive relationships,” said Amanda Trotter, Executive Director, Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society. “This $25,000 contribution towards maintaining the units is gratefully appreciated by the Society.”
BC Hydro’s funding for transitional housing builds on its $200,000 donation to the Salvation Army in Fort St. John in 2015. The funding included $175,000 for building repairs and maintenance at the Salvation Army’s Northern Centre of Hope and $25,000 to kick off the Christmas Kettle Campaign.
The funding of emergency and transitional housing providers was included in an agreement-in-principle for a Community Measures Agreement between BC Hydro and the City of Fort St. John.
Construction of Site C started in July 2015 and will be completed in 2024. Once built, Site C will provide clean, reliable and cost-effective electricity in B.C. for more than 100 years.
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