National project will focus on preventing homelessness and addressing
its impact on children and families
TORONTO, March 13, 2014 /CNW/ - Raising the Roof is pleased to announce
the RBC Foundation as the Lead Partner in their Child and Family
Homelessness Initiative. This project, the first of its kind in Canada,
will shed light on the causes of, and potential solutions to, child and
family homelessness. In keeping with its commitment to children's
mental health, RBC's support will be directed specifically towards
understanding the impact of homelessness on a child's mental
well-being.
Thousands of children and their families across Canada face homelessness
every year. Current statistics tell an alarming story: emergency
shelter use by families is escalating - from an average stay of 30
nights in 2005, to 50 nights by 2008. Between 2005 and 2009, the
estimated number of children using emergency shelters grew from 6,205
to 9,459. The average age of those children was 6 ½ years old*.
Carolann Barr, Executive Director of Raising the Roof observes, "We have
already completed the first step of this project - an environmental
scan. Next, we'll examine ways in which Canada and other countries
support the immediate and long-term well-being of children experiencing
homelessness. With the help of eight carefully chosen project partners,
we will also highlight promising practices and develop a framework that
communities and governments can use to address child and family
homelessness in their neighbourhoods and jurisdictions." http://raisingtheroof.org/Our-Programs/Child---Family-Homelessness.aspx
"Children who experience the physical and emotional stress of
homelessness are at risk of developing mental health issues in
childhood or later life," notes Leeann Signorotti, regional
vice-president, RBC Private Banking for the Greater Toronto region.
"Many of us who know struggling families or have visited shelters in
our communities, want to see young children receive the support they
need to be healthy and happy - inside and out. That's why we are
pleased to support Raising the Roof's initiative to help shed light on
mental health issues and lessen the traumatic impact of homelessness."
In 2013, RBC introduced the RBC Believe in Kids Pledge, a five-year,
$100 million commitment to improving the well-being of at least one
million children and youth in Canada. By supporting Raising the Roof as
part of this pledge, RBC is contributing to building a healthier and
safer future for Canada's next generation.
* (Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Homelessness
Partnering Strategy, The National Shelter Study [2005-2009]).
About RBC's Commitment to Community and Sustainability
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) is Canada's largest bank and
one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization.
We employ approximately 79,000 full- and part-time employees who serve
more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and
institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 42 other
countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com. RBC is recognized among the world's financial, social and
environmental leaders and is listed on the 2014 Dow Jones
Sustainability World Index, the DJSI North American Index, the Jantzi
Social Index and the FTSE4Good Index. RBC is one of Canada's Greenest
Employers, and one of Canada's 50 Most Socially Responsible
Corporations.
RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations,
sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2013, we contributed
more than $104 million to causes worldwide, including donations and
community investments of more than $69 million and $35 million in
sponsorships. Learn more at www.rbc.com/community-sustainability.
About Raising the Roof
Raising the Roof provides strong and effective national leadership on
long-term solutions to homelessness through partnership and
collaboration with diverse stakeholders, investment in local
communities, and public education.
Since our beginning, in 1996, we have brought national attention to the
issue of homelessness through programs that are focused on: raising
awareness and understanding of the issue of homelessness; identifying
barriers and solutions to the issue; providing tools and resources for
those who work to alleviate homelessness; encouraging networking and
sharing of best practices; and engaging individuals, communities and
the private sector in solutions.
Additional information
You can read more about this national project and other funding partners
at www.raisingtheroof.org.
SOURCE RBC
