A note from McLaren Housing's Executive Director:

McLaren Housing has been truly blessed this year with very generous contributions from our corporate friends and foundations as well as many individual donors.  We truly appreciate your support of the work we do - THANK YOU!!!!!

I often talk about our need for more portable rent subsidies.  These are "portables" that allow our clients to choose the neighbourhood they want to live in near the support services they need.  Although many of our clients choose the West End, we also have clients living in Sooke, Merritt, Chilliwack and all over the Metro Vancouver area.

McLaren Housing is pleased to announce that we have added 30 more "portables" to our housing stock!  10 "portables" will be funded by McLaren Housing through generous donations from our supporters.  20 "supportive portable rent subsidies" will be funded by our housing partner, BC Housing.  Many of our prospective clients need more than a safe home.  They also need support to: find appropriate housing and then learn the basic life skills needed to stabilize their housing; access referrals and linkages to counseling, addiction and other services; and ensure the continuum of health care and have access to life-saving drug treatments.  These 20 "supportive portables" will provide these supports.  We are very excited about these new portables and look forward to adding to our "McLaren" family!

And lastly Christmas shopping can stress out even the most organized, calm person.  Making a list and checking it twice can leave you exhausted and ready to hide until next year!  Please consider giving a charitable donation (complete with a tax receipt) as a gift for those hard-to-shop-for friends and family.  The gift is easy to wrap and you will be helping to provide safe, affordable housing (& Peace On Earth!) for one of our clients! 

Happy and safe holidays to everyone!Sincerely,

Robin Campbell,
Executive Director

  Sparkle, a Sold-out success!

McLaren Housing Society thanks you and all of those who helped make the inaugural Sparkle event a success .   We very much enjoyed the company of 60 to mark our 20 years of service in helping to provide safe and affordable housing for men and women living with HIV and AIDS, to sample fine wines generously donated and guided - by Sommelier Pam Cohen, and to enjoy the spectacular Vancouver Celebration of Light fireworks from the 34th floor of Scotia Tower. 

Thanks to our gracious host Scotiabank and its Senior Vice-President, B.C. & Yukon Region, David Poole; all ticket sales went directly to supporting McLarens mission of safe and affordable housing.  In addition, Scotiabank matched ticket revenue with a donation of $5,000 bringing to $12,000 the total raised. This will help McLaren finance two additional annual rental subsidies, providing homes for people with HIV/AIDS for a full year.


McLaren Housing Society Board Chair Darren Kopetsky, right, accepts a $5,000 donation from David Poole, Scotiabank's Senior Vice-President, B.C. & Yukon Region.

McLaren Housing Society thanks  Scotiabank, and you and all of those others who helped make the inaugural Sparkle event a success.   We very much enjoyed the company ..."
Additional sincere thanks to:

-In the Park Florists at Forest Lawn, Burnaby
-Pam Cohen
-Dr. Neil McDonald
-Scotiabank
-Optaderm
-Daniel, le Chocolat Belge (South Granville)
-Blink Optometry
-Capers
-Creative volunteers Jean Yves Pigeon and Laurie Lamarche
-Event volunteers Chris, Robin, Kevin, Chad, and Greg


Prairie enthusiasts enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner, prairie nostalgia, and entertainment galore served up by Linda Fillmore and guests at the 8th Annual Prairie Fairies Fowl Supper .   Generous sponsors, dozens of volunteers, and the 650 lucky enough to snag a ticket (the event sold out in 51 minutes in early September) made the evening was a huge success raising over $40,000.   The Fillmore Family Foundation, producers of the event, shared $14,000 with McLaren Housing, $14,000 with A Loving Spoonful, and the Dr. Peter Centre raised approximately $12,000 at the silent auction.    Many thanks to the Fillmore Foundation, the planning committee,  sponsors such as 'Canola' sponsors TD Canada Trust and Gary Bell, and the volunteers entertainers including Pickled Productions, the Hot Flash Hoofers, Jennifer Hershman, Rusty Tin Can, and world-renowned accordian player Haike Kingma.   See y'all next year!


Linda and the cast of Pickled Productions' "Debbie Does Dallas"


  That's why they call it a Fowl SUPPER

An ambitious goal to mark 20 years achieved!  

At the outset of 2007, marking 20 years since the formation of McLaren Housing Society, the Board set as an ambitious goal to secure enough funds to grant 20 additional subsidies.  
 
We are pleased to note that the goal has been met.   We have determined over the course of the year that there is sufficient funds in reserve to initiate 10 more subsidies, and so those have been started.  In late November, we heard word from BC Housing that they will provide 20 additional subsidies, complete with some resource to support those on the subsidies to remain safely and affordably housed. Many thanks to BC Housing, as well as to all of our private fundraising supporters to have made this optimistic goal a reality.
 
We are very proud of these acheivements, however many more still in need housing. Please help us grow our community, one subsidy at a time. Tax deductable donations can be made online or by mail.
 


 EVERY DOLLAR ADDS UP.
$6,000 provides housing for one year
$1,500 provides housing for a season
$500 provides housing for a month
$125 provides housing for a week

DONATE ONLINE

By Cheque:
McLaren Housing Society of British Columbia
200-649 Helmcken St., Vancouver, BC  
V6B 5R1   Canada

Your generosity helps ensure an individual with HIV/AIDS has a clean, safe place to live.

22nd Annual AIDS WALK for LIFE

The McLaren Team participated at fhe 22nd Annual AIDS WALK for LIFE, September 23rd.
 and raised almost $4,000.
 
A big THANK YOU to all those who walked and donated.
 

GENEROUS PARTNERS       

 

Looking for a Mortgage? Talk to Jean Yves at Verico, and your home purchase could help put a roof over someone elses head, too.

Verico Jean Yves Pigeon Mortgage Services generously donates $100 to McLaren for every mortgage they close.
P. 604-878-7777
www.bcmortgageinfo.com


 

Thank you to our wonderful funders and supporters:   
M.A.C. AIDS
BC Gaming Commission
Elton John Aids Foundation
Face The World Foundation
Scotia Bank
Jean Yves Pigeon
and you!

Over the last 6 months McLaren has raised over $100,000. Your generosity helps ensure an individual with HIV/AIDS has a clean, safe place to live.