House of Friendship takes over regional outreach program

House of Friendship will now oversee a regionally funded community outreach program that connects families with services and basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter.

Waterloo Regional council approved on Wednesday a staff recommendation for House of Friendship to become the lead agency overseeing the program, delivered by 14 community-based agencies across the region at a cost of $1.021 million annually.

“The lead agency model increases consistency across the program and it increases customer service,” said Carolyn Schoenfeldt, director of employment and income support for Region of Waterloo.

The change comes out of a 2015 review of social development programs, including the community outreach program that has been run by the region for 15 years. The resulting recommendations were that one agency oversee the program and an advisory committee made up of the 14 agencies currently providing the service be formed.

House of Friendship was chosen as the new lead from four proposals the region received.

When it takes over in January, House of Friendship will be responsible for administering the program funding along with conducting a review to ensure neighbourhoods and their unique characteristics are served while also retaining a regionwide, consistent approach.

It also gets one-time startup costs in the first year of $52,000.

“The biggest thing is the families won’t see a change,” Schoenfeldt said.

The program’s goal is to reduce and prevent poverty in the region by supporting children and their families. Outreach workers also know the community and all the services and programs, and can help families navigate that system.

“These outreach workers connect them to the agencies,” Schoenfeldt said. “They’re really that liaison with the family and what their needs are.”

They also work with families and individuals to ensure access to basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, transportation, employment, education and recreation.

“We’re excited and I think some good opportunities lie ahead,” said John Neufeld, executive director for House of Friendship.

“All we want to do is build upon what has been done, strengthen it.”

House of Friendship has been part of the outreach program since its beginning.

“It’s just a larger scale and larger responsibility.”