The beautiful town of Jasper has long had a housing problem, and this extends to our Veteran and First Responder community. Made even more important after the 2024 Wildfires devastated our community. Lack of housing, rental units, and affordable units continues to be frustrating to everyone. An inability to build new units, and unaffordable prices in the both the rental and home purchase market in our town make it rather challenging. Due to this being a National Park, its limited allowable footprint and an incredible demand, means many Veterans that have come here to work, live and enjoy this community have to move on due to lack of housing, or as we have seen, couch surf and bounce from available room to room. Not really a viable way to live, and completely unacceptable for a couple or family.
The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #31 like many Legions has had to transition to newer ideas and initiatives to ensure the organization continues to exist in Jasper. We have embraced many of these ideas and been successful in our operation of "The Stand Easy" as well as involving our community and development of our Veterans Adventures Program.
The Jasper Legion seeks to renovate our classroom area into two affordable/accessible Veteran/First Responder suites. A large area with a loft that has been underutilized for many years. The renovation would be internal and cost effective - we believe a very worthy project. Regrettably our small idea, and small idea's (2 units) don't meet the requirements of most grants and funding opportunities due to its low impact, and being a Non-Profit - financing is not possible.
Our housing project would achieve a few different goals -
1. Provide affordable/accessible housing to two veterans/first responders, or veteran/first responder couples, close to downtown to reduce need for any transport and allow them to work in our community.
2. Provide access to supports, and programs available for Veterans at the Royal Canadian Legion branch and a support network from our membership.
3. Provide continuous rental stream to the Jasper Legion that would allow it to continue within the community and support Veterans, their Families and our Community. A funding stream that would diversify the Legions funds from Bar/Restaurant operations to a more sustainable and supportive model.
So self funding has been our path forward, conducting fundraisers, our annual Veterans Gala and the continued operations of the "Stand Easy." It makes the way forward slow, but we continue to advance and hope for the future. A well known Veteran advocate, charity operator, and supporter of our endeavor made the comment at our 2023 Veterans Gala - "400 K - (laughing) that's tiny, you would have a better chance at asking for 5 Mil and build 10 units." Small projects seem to be tougher to get done.
Thank you to all the Veterans/First Responders, our Supporters and our Community to all the help and support we have received so far.
If you are interested in donating, supporting, partnering or sponsoring our modest project please reach out and contact us. Project drafting plans, and designs are available on request. Sponsorship naming, dedications, charitable donations receipts or other ideas or requests are welcome so please inquire - [email protected].
The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #31 like many Legions has had to transition to newer ideas and initiatives to ensure the organization continues to exist in Jasper. We have embraced many of these ideas and been successful in our operation of "The Stand Easy" as well as involving our community and development of our Veterans Adventures Program.
The Jasper Legion seeks to renovate our classroom area into two affordable/accessible Veteran/First Responder suites. A large area with a loft that has been underutilized for many years. The renovation would be internal and cost effective - we believe a very worthy project. Regrettably our small idea, and small idea's (2 units) don't meet the requirements of most grants and funding opportunities due to its low impact, and being a Non-Profit - financing is not possible.
Our housing project would achieve a few different goals -
1. Provide affordable/accessible housing to two veterans/first responders, or veteran/first responder couples, close to downtown to reduce need for any transport and allow them to work in our community.
2. Provide access to supports, and programs available for Veterans at the Royal Canadian Legion branch and a support network from our membership.
3. Provide continuous rental stream to the Jasper Legion that would allow it to continue within the community and support Veterans, their Families and our Community. A funding stream that would diversify the Legions funds from Bar/Restaurant operations to a more sustainable and supportive model.
So self funding has been our path forward, conducting fundraisers, our annual Veterans Gala and the continued operations of the "Stand Easy." It makes the way forward slow, but we continue to advance and hope for the future. A well known Veteran advocate, charity operator, and supporter of our endeavor made the comment at our 2023 Veterans Gala - "400 K - (laughing) that's tiny, you would have a better chance at asking for 5 Mil and build 10 units." Small projects seem to be tougher to get done.
Thank you to all the Veterans/First Responders, our Supporters and our Community to all the help and support we have received so far.
If you are interested in donating, supporting, partnering or sponsoring our modest project please reach out and contact us. Project drafting plans, and designs are available on request. Sponsorship naming, dedications, charitable donations receipts or other ideas or requests are welcome so please inquire - [email protected].