Kekinow Indigenous Programs and Services Society (KIPSS) was incorporated as Not-For-Profit Society on January 30, 2020. KIPSS shares three of its Board of directors with sister organization “Kekinow Native Housing Society’ which has been in operation since 1986.
The purposes of the KIPSS are to serve Indigenous Persons living in the South Fraser region of British Columbia, particularly residents of Kekinow Native Housing Society, with programs and services, including:
a) Culturally relevant physical and mental health and wellness care from medical practitioners, elders and healers, addictions counsellors, and trauma recovery counsellors,
b) Housing programs and services for Indigenous Persons who come to the South Fraser region for medical treatment, and their families,
c) Programs and services for youth who shown to need assistance, including job skills training and employment assistance, housing, education, life skills, and cultural awareness,
d) Programs and services for elders and their families,
e) Programs and services for women at risk, infants, and children, and
f) Activities ancillary and incidental to the attainment of the above purposes.
KIPSS has received a RH-grant in the amount of $709,170 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021. With this federal funding, the society was able to help Indigenous Individuals and families with financial assistance during Covid-19 to keep them housed and prevent homelessness. Additionally, the society was able to hire a Case worker and a Housing navigator to help many Indigenous families in need by providing access to counselors and other health related services. The society also helped Individuals with basic needs like groceries, clothing and facilitated cultural ceremonies. KIPSS has also been helping Indigenous individuals with access to employment education & training.
The society has further received $776,381 for the fiscal year 2021-22 and $63,500 for each of the next two fiscal years to continue providing these wrap support services.