Reaching Home Community Advisory Board

The Reaching Home Community Advisory Board (CAB) is a body of community representatives established by the City of Brantford. CAB monitors the allocation of funding for homelessness-related initiatives, identifies service needs and gaps, raises social awareness regarding the causes of homelessness, and advocates for vulnerable members in our community. CAB supports collaborative efforts to prevent and end homelessness across Brantford-Brant and is a component of Brantford-Brant’s contribution to Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. Reaching Home funds community-based programs aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada, with the goal of reducing chronic homelessness by 50% by 2027-28.

Membership:

CAB aims to engage with a variety of stakeholders in the community including:

Persons who have lived experience with homelessness;
Representatives from the Indigenous community;
Members from the County of Brant;
Members from the health sector;
Members from the landlord association and/or housing sector;
Members from organizations that serve individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness;
Members from the domestic violence sector;
Members from the youth sector;
Members from the LGBTQ2S+ serving sector;

Board Member Details

The Reaching Home Community Advisory Board on Homelessness (CAB) is no longer accepting applications for new members.

Board member responsibilities

The CAB plays a pivotal role in developing and implementing a local Housing First approach. The Key Functions of the CAB include:

Serving as an advisory body on funded projects during the member’s 2-year term.
Informing recommendations from the City regarding the funded projects
Raising social awareness of the root causes of homelessness and how the resolution of these issues betters the quality of life in this community for all
Supporting continuous improvement of comprehensive solutions for homelessness in the City and County
Encouraging partnerships to build capacity and develop resources
Contributing to the development of a community plan that will guide work during the funding cycle
Developing the Terms of Reference at funding renewal (5-year cycle)

Board member requirements

Ability to work collaboratively with other members of the CAB to advance solutions to homelessness and funded projects that address homelessness
Maintain an awareness of current issues and government policies impacting persons in various stages of homelessness
Attend CAB meetings regularly, actively participate in discussions, and contribute to the consensus process
Represent the views of their community, clearly distinguishing when speaking on behalf of the community, the public, or themselves
Participate in working groups when required and possible
Share leadership, expertise, information, and experience
Where applicable and appropriate, obtain formal endorsement from their organization/agency/network for participation in the CAB
Adhere to the Confidentiality Agreement, Conflict of Interest Guidelines, and Terms of Reference.

Board member commitments

The CAB meets 6 times a year.

CAB Members are accountable to the community they serve and are asked to commit a minimum of 2 years to participating on CAB. By seeking participation on CAB, members are also making a commitment to:

Work together in an effective and professional manner
Adhere to a high standard of diligence and care in carrying out duties
Avoid conflicts of interest
Consider the views of others equally
Maintain confidentiality

CAB Terms of Reference and Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Agreement is available upon request.

Contact Us

Housing and Homelessness Services
58 Dalhousie Street
Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J2

T. 519-759-4150
F. 519-759-1750
Toll free: 1-833-771-1163
E-mail Housing and Homelessness Services
Map this Location.

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