Welcome Home Kits
The Welcome Home Kits Initiative is funded by the Province of B.C. and are designed to support individuals with a history of homelessness to make a new start in their new home. The kits include kitchen supplies, bedding, and linens, as well as cleaning supplies and other items that can help families and individuals make a new start. Our goal for the initial year of the program was to make between 1,800 and 2,000 available across BC. Due to the success of the program we have been able to continue to provide Welcome Home Kits across the province and have been able to extend our reach with the Food Banks of BC.
Our aim is to provide care, support, as well as a sense of choice and dignity to as many individuals as possible as they make the transition into their new home. This includes working to provide assistance in a caring, responsive, and culturally safe way. Hearing how the kits have made a difference is how we know we’re achieving our goal. We are grateful to the many partners who have come together to support this project.
Program Reach across the Province
Due to the success of the program we have been able to continue to provide Welcome Home Kits across the province, partnering with wonderful partners who have stepped forward to participate in the delivery of the program. We have also found that we have been able to extend our reach by connecting with the Food Banks of BC. Click around and zoom in on the maps below to see the reach of the program and the partners we have across British Columbia.
By Region
By Community
Initial Program Partners
SPARC BC is pleased to have partnerships with the following organizations who have stepped forward to provide advice on the design and delivery of the program. As well, these groups will help to support new and growing partnerships needed to allow for the expansion of the program:
Canadian Mental Health Association Port Alberni
Connexus
Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society
Saik’uz First Nation
The KEY Resource Centre Society
Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society
Salt Spring Island Community Services
Victoria Women’s Transition House Society
YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island
Dakelh & Quesnel Community Housing Society
Coalition of Substance Users of the North (CSUN)
Nelson Community Services
Community Connections Revelstoke
Revelstoke Community Housing Society
Duncan Housing Society
Society of Southeast BC
Chilliwack Health & Housing Centre
Mission Community Services
Ocean Crest Community Ministries
The Salvation Army Care and Share Centre
Phoenix Transition Society
Positive Living North
Prince George Aboriginal Centre
YMCA BC Prince George
Alouette Addictions Services Society
AZURE Place
Blade Runners
Chrysalis Society
Coast Mental Health
Community Connections
Connective
Covenant House
Directions Youth Services
Downtown Eastside SRO Collaborative Society
InnerVisions Recovery Society
Ishtar Women’s Resource Society
Journey Home Community Association
Maple Ridge ACT Team
Options BC
Pioneer Community Living Association
Richmond South Centre
Seniors Services Society BC
Stepping Stone Community Services Society
Tsawwassen First Nation
Unlocking the Gates
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
YMCA Metro Vancouver
Ksan Society
Tahltan Central Government
Tamitik Status of Women
Island Crisis Care Society
Salvation Army New Hope Center
Princeton & District Community Services Society
The Salvation Army Fort St John
Women’s Resource Society
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
BC Rent Bank
BC Society of Transition Houses
Métis Nation British Columbia
Sea to Sky Community Services
Ann Elmore House
Campbell River Nurturing Society
Our Lady of Guadeloupe
Sunshine Coast Community Services
A Way Home Kamloops
Together these partners provide more than 185 different points of connection across British Columbia.
As the program evolves, our goal is to continue to expand the number of communities served as well as the number of partnerships.
In putting together these partnerships, our goal is to ensure that there are different points of contact across British Columbia—someone to say “Welcome home, let me know how to help you get settled in.”
If your organization is interested in the Welcome Home Kits Initiative, please download the Program Overview and Application Form.
