Reaching Home Community Advisory Board

The Reaching Home Community Advisory Board (CAB) is a body of community representatives established by the City of Brantford. CAB monitors the allocation of funding for homelessness-related initiatives, identifies service needs and gaps, raises social awareness regarding the causes of homelessness, and advocates for vulnerable members in our community. CAB supports collaborative efforts to prevent and end homelessness across Brantford-Brant and is a component of Brantford-Brant’s contribution to Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. Reaching Home funds community-based programs aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada, with the goal of reducing chronic homelessness by 50% by 2027-28.

Membership:

CAB aims to engage with a variety of stakeholders in the community including:

  • Persons who have lived experience with homelessness;
  • Representatives from the Indigenous community;
  • Members from the County of Brant;
  • Members from the health sector;
  • Members from the landlord association and/or housing sector;
  • Members from organizations that serve individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness;
  • Members from the domestic violence sector;
  • Members from the youth sector;
  • Members from the LGBTQ2S+ serving sector;

Board Member Details

The Reaching Home Community Advisory Board on Homelessness (CAB) is no longer accepting applications for new members.

Board member responsibilities

The CAB plays a pivotal role in developing and implementing a local Housing First approach. The Key Functions of the CAB include:

  • Serving as an advisory body on funded projects during the member’s 2-year term.
  • Informing recommendations from the City regarding the funded projects
  • Raising social awareness of the root causes of homelessness and how the resolution of these issues betters the quality of life in this community for all
  • Supporting continuous improvement of comprehensive solutions for homelessness in the City and County
  • Encouraging partnerships to build capacity and develop resources
  • Contributing to the development of a community plan that will guide work during the funding cycle
  • Developing the Terms of Reference at funding renewal (5-year cycle)
Board member requirements
  • Ability to work collaboratively with other members of the CAB to advance solutions to homelessness and funded projects that address homelessness
  • Maintain an awareness of current issues and government policies impacting persons in various stages of homelessness
  • Attend CAB meetings regularly, actively participate in discussions, and contribute to the consensus process
  • Represent the views of their community, clearly distinguishing when speaking on behalf of the community, the public, or themselves
  • Participate in working groups when required and possible
  • Share leadership, expertise, information, and experience
  • Where applicable and appropriate, obtain formal endorsement from their organization/agency/network for participation in the CAB
  • Adhere to the Confidentiality Agreement, Conflict of Interest Guidelines, and Terms of Reference.
Board member commitments and meeting dates

The CAB meets virtually on the following dates in 2024 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. The advisory may choose to have 1-2 meetings in-person in a calendar year.

  • Thursday, March 21, 2024
  • Thursday, May 16, 2024
  • Thursday, July 18, 2024 (in person)
  • Thursday, September 19, 2024
  • Thursday, November 21, 2024

CAB Members are accountable to the community they serve and are asked to commit a minimum of 2 years to participating on CAB. By seeking participation on CAB, members are also making a commitment to:

  • Work together in an effective and professional manner
  • Adhere to a high standard of diligence and care in carrying out duties
  • Avoid conflicts of interest
  • Consider the views of others equally
  • Maintain confidentiality