‘Invisible homelessness’ in Kelowna prompts fundraising campaign – Okanagan | 24CA News
It’s known as invisible homelessness, and it’s on the rise within the Central Okanagan.
“It’s what we don’t see,” stated Breanna McDonald, engagement and partnership coordinator with Mamas For Mamas. “People living in tents, campgrounds, in their cars, on people’s couches.”
The Kelowna-based group, which helps households struggling to make ends meet, says there’s a rising variety of individuals and households falling into homelessness, or on the verge of it.
“Inflation, cost of living, cost of food, cost of rent, specifically in the Okanagan, is very extreme,” McDonald informed Global News.
“And sometimes it’s make-or-break between feeding your children or putting a roof over your head.”
The group has seen an 82 per cent improve within the variety of households needing homelessness assist this 12 months alone.
“Seeing cases day to day, it puts into perspective how lucky we all are,” stated an emotional McDonald. “And even a little help is a lot of help to people who have nothing.”
The scenario, which McDonald known as dire, has motivated a brand new fundraising marketing campaign.
Called Filling The Housing Gap. the marketing campaign has objective of $250,000.
“We’d like to do this before back to school so that kids can kind of have a solid base to start their year,” McDonald stated.
Funds raised shall be used to assist these susceptible to shedding their housing, or missing the additional quantity to safe it.
“Anything from covering first and last month’s rent, rental insurance, utility bills, food costs, just to ensure that if it’s a make-or-break between keeping your home or finding a home, we’re there to give you that opportunity and a chance,” McDonald stated.
The Stober Foundation helped kick-start the fundraising initiative with a donation of $50,000, which was rapidly matched by entrepreneur and philanthropist Brent Marshall.
“We’re big on the campaign,” Marshall stated. “We want to help and we want to encourage other companies to get behind it.”
Marshall, who’s a business realtor and business damaged with Business Finders, is passionate in regards to the trigger.
As a young person, he was displaced from his dwelling and is aware of firsthand the struggles concerned in fending for your self.
“I was on my own. But, at that point, the community, they kind of took me in until I could get on my own. I can’t imagine it here because there are so many people that don’t have family, or other people close to them here, that can help them in that time of need,” he stated.
“So you actually see them living in vehicles, tents, backyards, and with children, and that just should not be happening.”
The Filling The Housing Gap marketing campaign is underway.
You can go to the Mamas For Mamas web site for extra data or to donate.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
