PORT COQUITLAM (NEWS1130) - Red tape is getting in the way of a plan to end homelessness in the Lower Mainland.
The program called
"Homes for Good" seeks to eradicate homelessness by tapping into private donations and has been initiated by Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore.
Basically, he's getting private donors to pick up the difference between what a person gets on a welfare cheque and what their rent cost would be. The problem is Revenue Canada considers that extra cash income. So if a person takes it, they no longer qualify for social programs.
He says they're working on a plan to get around that. "Although it didn't fit certain regulations within the provincial government, we are working with them on how we can still make this work, and we're getting very close now."
Moore says there are about 200 homeless people in the Tri Cities.