Indigenous Housing Support Program
Indigenous Housing program hours: Mon-Friday 8.30am-4.30pm
The Indigenous Housing Support program recognizes the growing need for individualized housing support and advocacy for urban Indigenous people. The program aims to provide a high quality of culturally safe advocacy and support to those who are wishing to move toward greater housing stability, including those who are currently:
- homeless
- at risk of homelessness
- at risk of eviction
- living in overcrowded and/or unsafe housing situations
- living long-term in motels
- couch surfing
- fleeing violence/abuse
- experiencing housing instability
Emma Loverin
Housing Program Coordinator
Smithers Location
Email: cultural.connections@dzelkant.com
Ph: (250) 847-5211 Ext: 212
Raised in Smithers, BC, Emma is a member of the Tahltan Nation’s Crow clan. She is passionate about supporting people in the community. In her spare time she likes to hike, paddle board, dirt bike, and ski.
The Housing Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the Housing Support Program, and ensuring that high quality, culturally safe supports are available to urban Indigenous people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and wish to increase their housing stability and holistic health.
Chelsea McKinley
Indigenous Housing Support Worker
Smithers Location
Email: housing.support@dzelkant.com
Ph: (250) 847-5211 Ext: 214
Chelsea joined the Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society in 2022! She loves making connections and is passionate about learning new things, opportunities to better serve the community, and helping support others through their journeys in life—providing an attentive, compassionate place to seek help and understanding.
Raised in the Bulkley Valley, Chelsea loves to spend most her free time outdoors: hiking, skating, and going on adventures with friends!
The Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society’s Indigenous Housing Support Worker’s role is to provide ongoing support for people in our community who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness.
Dustyn Standbridge
Indigenous Housing Support Coordinator
Houston Location (View Houston Housing Support Program here)
Email: houston.housing@dzelkant.com
Dustyn was born and raised in Houston, and is always looking for new ways to be involved in the community! Passionate about holistic health and well-being, Dustyn has a diploma in Kinesiology through the College of New Caledonia, and is currently working toward her certification in Canadian Society Exercise Physiology.
Dustyn comes to the Houston Friendship Centre with experience working and volunteering in organizations such as Salvation Army, Farmers Market, and Houston Link to Learning. She has a certification in nutritional advising and national coaching, and is thrilled to be in a role where she can support her clients with their housing goals and tenancy challenges.