The City of Prince George’s new grant will support and encourage non-profits to hire people who have lived, or are currently living in poverty.
According to the City, the Peers Employment and Encouraging Resiliency (PEER) Grant is a short-term project funded by a Strengthening Communities Services Grant provided by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM).
The City describes a ‘Peer’ as a person who experienced or is experiencing unsheltered homelessness, who is at risk of homelessness, and/or who has experienced multiple barriers, including:
- Experience with addictions or substance abuse in the past or present
- Living with mental health challenges
- Being street entrenched
- Prior criminal justice involvement
- Lack of social networks connections
- Low income
- Facing stigma associated with the above barriers
The City says the grant was designed using feedback from downtown citizens that was collected during a public engagement session hosted in October. The application and the criteria for the grant were designed by community partners who support peers such as the POUNDS Project Society and Central Interior Native Health, as well as two peer advisors.
The city received $40,000 to support peers employment as a part of the grant from UBCM. Participating non-profits can receive up to $4,000 in wage support for each peer hired.