Vernon Mission Gets $15K to Fight Homelessness

When someone walks through the doors of Vernon's Upper Room Mission, they're not just getting a hot meal or clean clothes. They're getting a chance at hope, and a new $15,000 grant is about to strengthen that lifeline.

Tru Charitable Foundation (formerly First West Foundation) awarded the money to help the mission improve how it tracks and supports each guest's journey out of poverty. The donation is part of $82,000 the foundation has given to Vernon-area charities so far this year.

The Upper Room Mission serves as a daily refuge for people facing homelessness, poverty, and addiction. Guests can access meals, showers, laundry services, and clothing, but the mission goes deeper than basic needs.

Staff provide housing support, emergency care, and health and wellness services designed to help people rebuild their lives. The new funding will specifically upgrade case management systems so staff can better understand what each person needs and measure what's actually working.

"This will help more people move beyond homelessness, addiction and poverty, toward lasting stability and hope," says Jacco de Vin, the mission's executive director. Better tracking means smarter decisions about how to help each individual succeed.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't a one-time act of generosity. Since 1996, Tru Charitable Foundation has poured more than $15 million into communities across British Columbia, supporting the areas served by Valley First and other local brands of Tru Co-operative Bank.

This year alone, the foundation is investing $1.84 million through 19 endowments reaching 34 communities. The grants target everything from food insecurity to mental health to education, with flexible funding that lets organizations use the money where it's needed most.

"Strong communities are built by organizations that understand local needs and are deeply connected to the people they serve," says Tracy Fortino, the foundation's executive director. The philosophy is simple: trust local charities to know their communities best, then give them the resources to make real change happen.

For the guests at Upper Room Mission, that trust translates into something tangible: a warm place to belong and practical support to build a different future.