The City of Kelowna is accepting applications for the Journey Home Task Force.
The Task Force will include up to 15 members and report directly to city council, with the mandate to support the development of a long-term strategy to address homelessness. The name Journey Home reinforces the importance of shifting from traditional methods to a new approach of addressing the needs of those at risk of homelessness.
The process for developing the Journey-Home strategy is designed to be community-driven and inclusive, representing a variety of voices including those with the lived experience of homelessness, according to a city release.
The goal is to build a long-term strategy to prevent homelessness whenever possible and if it does occur, to have a coordinated approach that will help to ensure it is rare, short-lived and non-reoccurring.
Dr. Kyleen Myran and Martin Bell have already been selected as co-chairs for Journey Home Task Force, which will run for approximately one year, concluding in 2018.
The selection committee for the rest of the task force includes Mayor Colin Basran, city manager Ron Mattiussi, Active Living & Culture Division staff and the two co-chairpersons. Task force members will be selected based on their skills, knowledge, experience, and strong interest in homelessness prevention and the provision of affordable housing.
Visit the city’s website for more information and the application. Submissions are accepted until July 26.