According to a recent announcement the Fort McMurray Family Crisis Society, also known as Waypoints, will receive additional funding from the provincial government of just over one million dollars. This is money that the organization can greatly use as they try to provide services to families, women, and children. The exact amount of the additional funding is $1, 054,000. Roughly 75% of the additional funds will be used towards the second stage housing program that they have with helps provide subsidized rent payments for women and children who have had to leave their homes. Waypoints director Michele Taylor stated “Now what we can do is really start to look at the quality of our programming. Our support for children, getting increased skill and expertise in the area of trauma…”

The additional funding for the Fort McMurray Family Crisis Society is important so that they group can continue with their second stage housing project. During the press conference held by the provincial government the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters head Jan Reimer remarked “This is the best news that Alberta shelters have had in a very long long long time. We know second stage shelters work. Not all women can walk out of the doors of an emergency shelter and start a new life.” Michele Taylor also said “That should really aid in healing and really effective recovery from the experiences that they’ve had, and allow them to move forward with life more quickly.” The funding from the provincial government will go a long way to keeping families, women, and children housed.