Vernon Charity Gets $15K to Fight Homelessness

The Vernon Upper Room Mission Society just got a major boost to help more people move from homelessness to stability.

Tru Charitable Foundation awarded the organization $15,000 to strengthen its case management systems, which track each guest's progress and help staff provide better support. The mission serves people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and addiction through meals, showers, laundry, clothing, housing support, and a winter shelter program.

"Strengthening our case management systems means we can better understand each guest's journey, make evidence-based decisions, and continually improve the support we provide," says Jacco de Vin, the mission's executive director. The upgraded system will help staff identify what's working and ensure more people find lasting stability.

The grant comes from Tru Charitable Foundation's Valley First Regional Community Endowment, which has distributed $82,000 so far this year to Vernon-area charities. This year alone, the foundation is investing $1.84 million across 34 British Columbia communities.

The Ripple Effect

Since 1996, Tru Charitable Foundation has awarded over $15 million to charities in communities served by Valley First and other local brands of Tru Co-operative Bank. The foundation focuses on flexible, trust-based funding that lets organizations address local challenges like poverty, food insecurity, mental health, and inequality without rigid restrictions.

Tracy Fortino, the foundation's executive director, emphasizes that these grants create lasting community change. "Strong communities are built by organizations that understand local needs and are deeply connected to the people they serve," she says.

The Upper Room Mission provides more than emergency services. It offers a welcoming space where guests find belonging and hope alongside practical support like emergency care and health and wellness programs.

Every dollar invested in better tracking systems means more precise help for people ready to rebuild their lives, creating a stronger Vernon for generations to come.