One thing that many homeless individuals and families often have in common is a lack of positive relationships. These relationships can become even more difficult to establish in an environment with perceived stigma. In all of the planning that has occurred in Red Deer for homelessness and housing the importance of relationships and understanding has been identified.
Unfortunately, non-profit agencies that provide support to such individuals and families are struggling to maintain funding and find volunteers.
With these things in mind the Red Deer & District Community Foundation secured funding from the Government of Alberta to both develop a social marketing campaign and help increase the capacity of our local non-profits.
All of the non-profits in Red Deer were invited to a workshop on social marketing and those working in the area of housing and homelessness were invited to become partners with the Community Foundation in the development and implementation of this campaign.
The Central Alberta Addictions Consortium also became involved, using funding they received from the Red Deer and District Community Foundation, to help combine resources and assist with the development of this campaign.