Drayton Valley and Area Homelessness and Poverty Reduction Team
4743 46 Street Rotary House Drayton Valley, AB, Canada

We would like so send a huge thank you to the very kind (and very crafty!) community member who made all these for our clients at the Community Mat Program.

Thank you so much to the kind people who dropped off snacks for folks staying at the Community Mat program.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE! Just a reminder that the Community Mat Program will remain open 9:00PM to 7:00AM at the Calvary Baptist Church all through the holiday season. For any information on the program you can call or text Emily at 780-898-6037.

We really are quite the lucky bunch. Since the Community Mat Progam opened back up November 2, we have be the recipients of some incredible local kindness. Dominos, Goldie's Chicken and a couple wishing to remain anonymous have all donated meals and drinks to our program. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we aren't allowed to provide our clients with the same food options we have in the past so we can't tell you how much a hot meal means to them. It makes our hearts so happy that there are people and businesses that are willing to make such a meaningful gesture.

Job opportunity with the Community Mat Program! If you have experience working with vulnerable populations and you'd like to contribute to your community in a really big way take a look. https://www.draytonvalley.ca//10/Mat-Program-Supervisor.pdf

As transitions to a simplified EI program in this new phase of economic recovery, the Government of Canada is also introducing these new benefits: A Cana...da Recovery Benefit will provide $500 per week for up to 26 weeks to workers who stopped working due to COVID-19 or who have a reduced income, but are not eligible for Employment Insurance. They must be looking and available for work. A Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit will provide workers with $500 per week, for up to two weeks , if they are ill or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19 or have health conditions that would make them more susceptible to COVID-19. A Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit will provide $500 for up to 26 weeks per household, for Canadians unable to work because they must care for a child or family member who is unable to attend their school, daycare or other facility due to COVID-19. For details, please visit https://bit.ly/36sqxA3

NEW LOCATION! Please help us to give a huge shout out to the Drayton Valley Alliance Church for opening their doors to host the Community Mat and Day program! We were so happy to hear that as a part of the Government of Alberta's relauch strategy, the congregation is able to resume worship, therefore we will be moving the Community Mat and Day Program to the Omniplex effective the evening of Friday, May 28th.... We are also pleased to say that we are almost at capacity with 16 people using the program and the Alliance Church has a maxium capacity for 18 users, By using the curling rink area at the Omniplex, we will ensure that there is enough space for anyone who needs it! On behalf of the Homelessness and Poverty Reduction Team, the Community Mat Program Staff and the program particants, we thank you for your hospitality!

According to the new Nanos Research poll commissioned by the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, over 8 in 10 Canadians say they support affordable housing i...nvestments as part of a pandemic recovery. Learn more here: https://www.recoveryforall.ca/poll #RecoveryForAll

There are spaces available immediately in the Town's affordable housing program!

Many thanks to the Drayton Valley Community Foundation!!!

NEW LOCATION! Please help us to give a huge shout out to the Drayton Valley Alliance Church for opening their doors to host the Community Mat and Day program! We were so happy to hear that as a part of the Government of Alberta's relauch strategy, the congregation is able to resume worship, therefore we will be moving the Community Mat and Day Program to the Omniplex effective the evening of Friday, May 28th.... We are also pleased to say that we are almost at capacity with 16 people using the program and the Alliance Church has a maxium capacity for 18 users, By using the curling rink area at the Omniplex, we will ensure that there is enough space for anyone who needs it! On behalf of the Homelessness and Poverty Reduction Team, the Community Mat Program Staff and the program particants, we thank you for your hospitality!

If you've been having trouble figuring out which emergency Covid-19 benefit you should apply for, the the government of Canada and the CBC have released handy tools to help apply for the right one. Government of Canada https://covid-benefits.alpha.canada.ca/en/start... CBC https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/coronavirusbenefits/

In April, Kale brought us an Independent gift card donation. Today, we received a donation from Jacob. Together with fellow Scout Hayden, they completed a service project. Each bag brought in contained trail mix, a bottle of water, a pack of gum and a card made by the boys. Thank you both for your generous donations! They were greatly appreciated at the program!

Thank you to Drayton Valley Community Foundation for remembering the Mat Program in April & May for the community dinners! It was delicious! And everyone loved it! Thank you as well to Stetson Motors for sponsoring and delivering!

Tuesday we received a delicious delivery for lunch! Thank you Goldie's Chicken Plus Pizza for the awesome pizza! Everyone loved it!