On February 5, 2024, the first Member Meeting of the Homeless Foundation for Red Deer Region was held at the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre. “When the Homelessness Taskforce presented their recommendations in April 2024, we committed to establishing a Homeless Foundation (Society) in Red Deer by December 31, 2024 – and we are proud to say, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED,” states Lyn Radford, Founding President and Chair of the Foundation. “Our meeting on February 5th focused on transitioning the newly formed Society to the community, and we are incredibly proud of the dedicated team that will guide the Foundation forward.”
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who made this significant milestone possible, particularly the members of the Homelessness Foundation Transition Team, whose tireless efforts were instrumental in bringing this vision to fruition. Special thanks go to Art Anastasi, Bryan Pobihushchy, Gwen Clarke, Ian Milne, Jamil Charania, Kathy Lacey, Kimberley Worthington, Lyn Radford, Mark Jones, Dr. Michael Mulholland, Pat Moore, Ryan Krutzfeldt, Scott Robinson, and Talitha Klym.
Welcome “A Board”
We are thrilled to announce the introduction of the new Board of Directors of the Homeless Foundation For Red Deer Region! It has been exciting to meet the new members of the board who bring a diverse set of skills, experiences, and fresh perspectives. We are confident that their leadership and dedication will play a pivotal role in advancing our efforts to combat homelessness and create lasting, positive change for those in need in the Red Deer region.
“I am very proud to be part of such an influential team of citizens who are ready to roll up their sleeves and look for solutions to address homelessness in our community,” say President and Chair, Matt Cassidy. “It’s not going to be easy, and it’s not going to be void of challenges, but with a strong board to engage our community members, indigenous partners, on the ground agencies, and all levels of government I am confident we will begin to make progress together and see positive results.
Board Members
- Matt Cassidy,(President & Chair)
- John Young, (Secretary)
- Ryan Krutzfeldt, (Treasurer)
- Jim Cramer
- Doug Doran
- Josh Hall
- Kathy Lacey
- Pat Moore
- Dan Ouwehand
- Dustin Quirk
- Lyn Radford
- Scott Robinson
- Linda Yargeau
Next Steps
With our foundation now established, the Society will focus on several key objectives to drive our mission forward:
- Secure Registered Charity Status with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to enhance our ability to engage the community and mobilize resources for our efforts.
- Engage with Community Partners, build strong relationships with service providers, and actively listen to individuals with lived experience. Recognizing that there are areas we may not yet fully understand, this phase will be dedicated to deepening our knowledge of the issues to ensure that the solutions we implement are both relevant and effective.
- Collaborate with the City of Red Deer to explore opportunities for joint efforts in light of recent changes to the Community-Based Organization framework announced by the Province of Alberta.
- Define Strategic Outcomes with clear expectations set for three, six, twelve, and twenty-four months, ensuring that progress is measurable and aligned with our long-term goals.
While the road ahead is demanding, our unwavering commitment over the past twenty-four months has proven our dedication to driving meaningful change. We are fully prepared to continue this important work.