New Emergency Fund Launched to Help Families In Need

Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ territories | February 3, 2022 – Following the recent news of a local family of three living in an Accent Inns Inc. property, the hotel has teamed up with the United Way of Southern Vancouver Island to create a new Emergency Fund for families in need.

Valma Sampson, her partner Darcy Beuckert, and their daughter Lidia and their two dogs have been living at the Hotel Zed (owned by Accent Inns) in Victoria for the past month. Once the local community learned about their story, people started calling into Hotel Zed offering to pay for this family’s stay. With all the calls of support coming in, Accent Inns reached out to the United Way of Southern Vancouver Island (UWSVI) to see what more could be done.

“Since the pandemic hit we have been asking, how can we help?” said Mandy Farmer, CEO of Accent Inns and Hotel Zed. “Back in March of 2020 we partnered with United Way to start the Hotels for Frontline Workers Fund, so when we saw what was happening with families at risk here in our local hotels we thought maybe we can help again.”

Almost 15 percent of Victoria’s families with children live in poverty and the percent is even higher for single-parent families, with nearly 1 in 3 of them living with a significantly low income. At the same time, these families are facing increasingly higher monthly costs to meet their basic expenses. Victoria is one of the most expensive housing markets in Canada. Last year, a one-bedroom rent increased to $1,840 and a two-bedroom cost $2,300 (Zumper report).

Through the Emergency Fund for Families in Need, members of the community can support a family on the brink of homelessness. UWSVI’s Emergency Fund for Families in Need allows donors to help cover the costs of accommodation, critical expenses such as food, and system navigation support for those who are at risk. Families who are in need of support can reach out to the Rent Bank at Community Social Planning via their website.

“The past two years have truly tested all of us and our services,” said Mark Breslauer, CEO of UWSVI. “We recognize that the pandemic has had a significant impact on families. Job losses, rising housing and food costs are all added stressors for local families on top of health concerns and the rising cost of housing in the city. Through this fund, we appeal to neighbours helping out  neighbours, as we never truly know what challenges a family in need may face during this difficult time.”

UWSVI has kickstarted this initiative with a donation of $5,000. For other members of the community looking to support this fund, please visit https://uwsvi.ca/familiesinneed/

Levels of support:

$50 helps cover support meetings with a housing crisis prevention worker to help families at risk

$150 helps a family with emergency expenses like food

$1000 helps a family with housing and food expenses for a week

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