DESCRIPTION
A of L's Housing Stability Program builds on the existing frontline outreach and support services that Armor of Light provides in Wainwright and surrounding rural communities. Through trusted relationships, the program identifies individuals and families at risk of housing loss, or unable to meet housing needs, and provides timely rental assistance, damage deposit assistance, relationship building with landlords, case management, and supports immediate housing needs. Support is individualized and may include help with rent arrears, utility payments and damage deposits, alongside ongoing relationship-based support, advocacy and connection to community services. Armor of Light meets people where they are, offering low-barrier, compassionate care to address immediate crises while supporting longer-term stability. By strengthening existing supports, the program helps keep people housed and reduces pressure on emergency and social services.
DETAILS
Affordability Framework
The program supports housing affordability through a rent-geared-to-income approach, prioritizing households with immediate needs, followed by prioritizing households whose housing costs exceed 30% of their income. Rental assistance is provided on a short-term basis to reduce rental arrears, prevent eviction, and stabilize tenancies.
Target Completion Date
Operating
Populations Served
Homelessness
Total Project Cost
$100,000
Total Units
75
Affordable Units
75
Project Funding
Funding Required
Armor of Light is requesting up to $100,000 annually to support the Housing Stability Program. Funds could be provided throughout the project year.
Funds Raised
2024- $30,000-Reaching Homes, 2025-$40,000- Reaching Homes, 2026- $60,000- Reaching Homes, 2027- $60,000-Reaching Homes, $56,900- Alberta CIP Project Grant, for programming costs for our EmpowerHer program which is designed to move women into stability.
Use of funds
Funds will be used primarily for direct rental assistance, including rental arrears, utility payments, and damage deposits to prevent eviction and stabilize housing. Another portion will be utilized to support program delivery costs, including out-reach, client support, case management and administration. Funds are required on an ongoing basis throughout the program year to respond to urgent and time sensitive housing crises as they arise, these funds will support people in Wainwright, Hardisty, Hughenden, Irma, Chauvin, Edgerton, Fabyan, Kinsella, Viking, and more. Although Wainwright is a town of 6400 people, Armor of Light serves the broad area, over 12,000 people. Wainwright is also a military town, and what we tend to see during posting seasons, is that it becomes a sellers market, and tenants in the community become displaced as landlords list their rental homes for sale. We also received notice that CFB received an increased budget, which is bringing in a new training program, and we're expected over the next few years to get 400 individuals and families to Wainwright, which we currently do not have the infrastructure for.
Human Impact Story
There are many, but we assisted an individual that had been evicted from his home, his daughter was apprehended by child and family services due to homelessness, and that led to him living in a park in the middle of winter. We found this out, and through the relationships that we've built, we were able to get him into a safe rental the next morning, along with furnishing the place through donations. He's now stable, has employment and regularly has visits with his daughter.
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