100 More Homes Penticton is a group of community leaders who came together in 2016 initially to seek housing solutions and support for 100 vulnerable people in Penticton by July 2018. In 18 months of collaborative work, 133 people were housed. Individuals’ collaboration produced a collective voice to enrich support systems for those experiencing homelessness and enhance communication and education to the broader community.

While the initial goal has been met, there still remains a significant need in the community. Therefore, the work of 100 More Homes Penticton continues with a refreshed goal of ending chronic homelessness in the city of Penticton.

100 More Homes believes that every Penticton resident should have a safe, accessible, and affordable home to live. The Steering Committee believes that a society is successful when it provides equitable and inclusive opportunities for all and supports people when they are facing challenges in their lives.

The group became established to respond in a coordinated way to the ongoing and increasing numbers of people facing homelessness in Penticton and the associated health issues. The Steering Committee has generated huge successes for the community. It continues to passionately support vulnerable people in the community with the goal of preventing and addressing homelessness.

A look through the lived experience lens of homelessness  

United Way continues to support the 100 More Homes Steering Committee in Penticton. Recently the group released three videos highlighting pathways into and out of homelessness. The films were developed by the South Okanagan Lived Experience Circle and supported by OneSky Community Resources and United Way. They are part of the 100 More Homes anti-stigma and education campaign, helping build collective impact in communities to prevent and address homelessness.

Watch the videos:  

• Displaced: Living in the Shadows – Tim’s Story
• Displaced: Living in the Shadows – Christopher’s Story
• Displaced: Living in the Shadows – Dorothy’s Story

Strategic Goals of 100 More Homes

Vision

To work collaboratively to build a system of housing and supports to prevent and address homelessness in Penticton.

Values

• Every person in our community deserves to have a home
• Multisector collaboration with shared goals and priorities is essential
• Incorporating the Lived Experience voice within the Committee’s work
• No one group or agency can solve the issue of homelessness alone; collaboration is essential

Strategic Goals – current focus is on Data and Communication

1. Housing and Supports: Increase housing and supports for those experiencing homelessness
2. Coordinated Access Table: Create a coordinated system of intake, assessment and supports
3. Data: Produce consistent, reliable data
4. Communication: Enhance communication and education to the wider community

100 More Homes Penticton Info Sheet

100 More Homes in Action

100 More Homes Penticton has contributed to the process of developing supportive and affordable housing since 2016 by:

1. Supporting the development of a housing continuum,
2. Launching the coordinated access table,
3. Supporting applications to funding for the development of supportive and affordable housing,
4. Supporting the need for additional shelter spaces,
5. Advocated for the Social Development Manager role within the City of Penticton staff
6. Advocating for hygiene and health supports on a drop-in basis,
7. Developing Extreme Weather Response Plans for the winter periods
8. Working with the Built For Zero campaign to develop one of BC’s first By Name Lists*
9. Bringing partners together to work in tandem in the response to COVID-19 among vulnerable populations

*By Name List = By-Name List is a real-time list of all known people experiencing homelessness in your community. It includes a robust set of data points that support coordinated access and prioritization at a household level and an understanding of homeless inflow and outflow at a system level.

Our volunteers contribute their time, expertise and talent to improve lives in their communities – join us and make a difference!