CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - June 17, 2015) - On Thursday June 18th, the Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) in partnership with Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC), the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and the Alberta Human Rights Commission (AHRC) will be launching Canada's first Homeless Charter of Rights.
The launch event will showcase the physical Charter and include presentations from Robert A. Philip, Chief of the Commission and Tribunals of the AHRC and Frank Cattoni, Executive Director of SORCe. Community agencies, front-line workers and individual Calgarians will come together to watch the unveiling of the charter and to hear from a member of CHF's Client Action Committee. The Homeless Charter of Rights outlines the rights of people experiencing homelessness in accessing services, public spaces and accommodation. It aims to prevent discrimination and rights violations related to the condition of homelessness. The Homeless Charter of Rights project was funded by the Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund.
| WHAT: | An unveiling of Canada's first Homeless Charter of Rights open to the general public, community agencies and stakeholders. Designed to address the experiences of discrimination and subsequent access to opportunity for individuals experiencing homelessness, the Homeless Charter of Rights arose out of partnership between the Alberta Human Rights Commission and the Calgary Homeless Foundation. The purpose of the Charter launch is to spark conversation about the discrimination faced by those experiencing homelessness and to raise awareness of what the community can do to help deter it. The Charter is also designed to provide those experiencing homelessness education about their rights as individuals |
| WHEN: | Thursday June 18th Public event: 12pm to 1pm |
| WHERE: | Riverwalk, East Village (beside the Simmons uilding-618 Confluence Way SE) |
About CHF
The Calgary Homeless Foundation acts as a catalyst and enabler for Systems and Service Agencies to optimize client success. CHF focuses on four strategic pillars of work; Advocacy, Research and Development, Systems Planning, and Funding, (outcomes). In addition, CHF addresses gaps and identifies best practices to improve the system of care. Through mobilization of collective impact, CHF is committed to moving forward in partnership with the many homeless- serving agencies, the private sector, government partners, the faith community, other foundations and all Calgarians to end homelessness in Calgary once and for all. For more information, visit www.calgaryhomeless.com.
About the Alberta Human Rights Commission
In Alberta, the Alberta Human Rights Act protects Albertans from discrimination in certain areas based on specified grounds. The purpose of the Alberta Human Rights Act is to ensure that all Albertans are offered an equal opportunity to earn a living, find a place to live, and enjoy services customarily available to the public without discrimination. The Alberta Human Rights Act establishes the Alberta Human Rights Commission to carry out functions under the act. The Commission is an independent commission created by the Government of Alberta. The Minister of Justice and Solicitor General is responsible for the Commission. The Commission has a two-fold mandate: to foster equality and to reduce discrimination. It fulfills this mandate through public education and community initiatives, through the resolution and settlement of complaints of discrimination, and through human rights tribunal and court hearings. For more information, visit http://www.albertahumanrights.ab.ca/
Contact Information:
Louise Gallagher
Director, Marketing & Communications
Cell: 403 615 7607
louise@calgaryhomeless.com