April 30th, 2021. By: NewmarketToday Staff, newmarkettoday.ca, Original Article.
The collaboration is critical in terms of quality of care, outcomes, value for money, learning and innovation, say organizations’ leaders
BlueDoor
As of May 1, 2021, Blue Door and Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold will officially be merged.Blue Door and Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold both compassionately support and serve persons who are experiencing homelessness, one of the most vulnerable populations in our society. Through thoughtful dialogue, representatives from both organizations realized that there is a pressing need to strengthen support services for people experiencing homelessness in York Region and that the solution is collaboration through a merger.
By working more closely as one organization, community services in York Region will be strengthened for persons experiencing homelessness by promoting rapid rehousing while safeguarding the uniqueness of each organization.
A “one-door” approach will provide high-quality, safe, cost-efficient, effective, administratively sound, and integrated community services for persons experiencing homelessness necessary to the evolution of services for persons with precarious access to housing in York Region. A merger is critical to improving services for vulnerable populations system-wide in terms of quality of care, outcomes, value for money, learning, and innovation.
A merger will not change the services provided by Blue Door or Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold. Support services will continue for persons experiencing homelessness and Blue Door will maintain the incredible partnerships already established with various faith partners in York Region.
Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold will be renamed to Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold York – A Program of Blue Door. The program will continue to be led by Rehana Sumar, a community leader who has in-depth knowledge of the Out of the Cold program and its needs. Blue Door will provide additional support for the program, including intensive case management, to house more persons experiencing homelessness. For a full list of Blue Door’s services click here.
The goals of this merger include the following: to provide a more comprehensive response to persons experiencing homelessness, to provide an opportunity to work smarter together, enable greater use of technology, innovation, branding and the presence for effective advocacy, to create new opportunities for funding and fundraising, to allow for transformation in the homelessness sector and finally, to honour and sustain the service legacy of Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold.
This marks an exciting opportunity to continue working together and providing sustainable solutions to end homelessness in York Region.
About Blue Door
Blue Door has been serving the York Region population for over 39 years, providing supports including housing, health and employment for families, men, women, children, and youth that are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
About Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold – A Program by Blue Door
The Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold – A Program by Blue Door will continue coordinating emergency housing for people experiencing homelessness within York Region. Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold is a coalition of over 50 interfaith communities in York Region. Drop-in emergency housing locations are operated by 12 faith/host communities, who offer their facilities as an overnight emergency housing, and gather volunteers to serve the guests.