Planned pilot program could become a model for other northern communities, says Sally Ledger

A new pilot project planned for Dryden, Ont. would improve quality of life for Indigenous mothers by providing them with education, employment training, and affordable housing, says the head of the Dryden Native Friendship Centre.

The project is still in the development phase, but if all goes according to plan, Sally Ledger believes the Aboriginal Homeward Bound Program could help lift families out of poverty, and become a model for other communities in the region.

The idea for the project comes from an existing program run by WoodGreen Community Services in Toronto which provides women and their children with stable housing, and other supports for a four year period.

The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres is now working with that organization, and Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services, to adapt the program to serve the urban Indigenous population in several other communities in the province, including Dryden.

Read the rest of the article.