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About Community Action on Homelessness

Community Action on Homelessness (CAH) is a project of the North End Community Health Centre .   In a shared delivery model with Service Canada, CAH has been administering the Federal Homelessness funding for the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) since 1999.

As an inclusive community organization, CAH encourages participation from a broad range of stakeholders and works in partnership with community to advance solutions that address all aspects of homelessness in HRM.

The work of CAH is guided by a Steering Committee that develops, in consultation with the broader community, the “Halifax Community Plan”.   This plan sets the strategic direction for each two-year funding period, and defines the Requests for Proposals.   The CAH Steering Committee is made up of a diverse group of shelter and service providers, federal and provincial government representatives, the faith community, and people with first hand experience of homelessness.

• 2009 Steering Committee Members

What we do

CAH’s key responsibility is to work with community agencies to advance projects for funding under Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI).  CAH advertises a request for proposals (RFP), and then evaluates each proposal against terms of the call, identified gaps in the community, and Human Resources Development Canada terms for funding.   It then makes recommendations to HRDC.   A Request for Proposal Committee, including representation from HRDC, develops a clear RFP package and guidelines for community, including funding priorities. SCPI 2000-2003 funded projects advanced through three calls for proposals.

The number of RFP for SCPI Phase II is dependant on identified project priorities and the allocation of funding to projects advanced from the October 20003 call for proposals.  Click here for general guidelines or read the 2009 Community Plan for more information.

Advocacy

Advocacy refers to promoting the interests of stakeholders, especially homeless or at risk persons. Community’s contribution to the Action Plan 2003-2006 indicated a clear advocacy role for CAH at the national, provincial and local level.

The Advancement Plan initiatives the relate to advocacy include increasing awareness and informing policy makers of the impact of policy on person who are or at risk of homelessness; engaging with policy makers from various government departments and CAH staff participation in a variety of national, provincial, and local groups that promote changes in policies which will impact on the quality of life in our communities. CAH will not advocate for individuals.

There are also initiatives to build communities or individuals’ capacity to self-advocate. This is a key aspect of sustaining the momentum to address homelessness and affordable housing beyond SCPI Phase II.

Capacity Building

Capacity building refers to increasing the community's ability to address issues related to homelessness and affordable housing, and to develop solutions that address those issues. That capacity must be increased, and sustained beyond the end of SCPI Phase II in September of 2003 and the steering committee of CAH has a responsibility to facilitate that sustainability.

The advancement of projects for funding under SCPI is a key means of increasing the community’s capacity to address homelessness by addressing gaps in the housing and service provision continuum in the region covered by the Action Plan. Increasing agency and individual skill sets through workshops, and facilitating partnership development are also important to sustaining momentum in the community beyond SCPI Phase II.

Partnership Building

Partnerships were a vital component of the 2000-2003 Community Plan and they will continue in the 2003-2006 Community Plan to be a key means of sustaining community momentum to address the issues around homelessness. There will be a continued emphasis on strengthening partnerships and developing new partnerships that will support sustainability of both individual projects and the long-term future of CAH. By broadening partnerships with foundations, business associations, unions and other federal and provincial government departments, CAH will build long-term solutions to the homelessness challenges in the community. While recognizing the value of diverse partnerships, CAH believes that primary responsibility for addressing homelessness issues rests with all three levels of government contributing to the development of any solution, and to the pledged continued support of solutions to homelessness by relevant government departments to community agencies.

Communications

Communications impact on all facets of achieving the objectives of the Action Plan 2003-06. This Advancement Plan includes both internal and external communications tools/products. Internal communications refers to keeping current partners aware of CAH initiatives and establishing and maintaining reciprocal open lines of communication. External communications refers to raising general overall awareness to the general public and potential partners. There is also a supplementary Communications Plan that focuses on key messages, role of the media, spokespersons, protocol, and provides context to and informs the communication initiatives noted in this advancement plan.

Sub-committees

The Steering Committee of CAH has supported many initiatives and continues to provide support through the formation of focused committees that engage Community Voice and the larger community. The work of the each committee advances objectives of the Action Plan and serve to provide networking, awareness, and partnership opportunities amongst stakeholder groups. There is Steering Committee representation on each committee.

Committees are formed as opportunity is identified by community or Steering Committee membership. Contact our office if you are interested in taking part in CAH initiatives.

Volunteer Opportunities

There are many ways to get involved in the community, to give of your time or your resources to organizations that are working on the front lines in this community. Although charity and volunteerism is vital to making change, it is important that we also focus on the political and social aspects of homelessness and housing. CAH does not have many volunteer positions for individuals, we do however act as a bridge between the community and agencies who need volunteers on a regular basis. View our agency list for contact numbers to learn of volunteer opportunities. If your organization would like to be posted on the agency page, please email info@cahhalifax.org

Job Opportunities

Occasionally there are employment and term/contract opportunities at Community Action on Homelessness.