Step Up Community Program Details & Criteria

Is the Step Up Program for You?

If you are a parent with a child under 16 (including foster families) facing challenges that could be mitigated by an improvement in your home environment, we invite you to apply. Selected applicants receive a modification to their home at no charge. Potential projects could range from a wheelchair ramp to improve accessibility to a room conversion to accommodate a new foster child, or anything in between.

The goal is to improve the at-home environment so youth and their families can focus on their future and reach their full potential.

Youth or a family member applying on behalf of a youth may apply using our online application form.

Program Criteria:

• Applications for 2019 must be submitted by midnight, May 31, 2019.
• The renovation must directly benefit a youth under 16 or a family with kids under 16.
• A tenant may apply to the program provided the building owner grants permission for the work to proceed. The applicant is responsible for obtaining the owner’s permission.
• A visit to each finalist’s residence will be needed to determine the feasibility of the work requested.
• The location of the residence must be within the Greater Victoria area (south of the Malahat, excluding the Gulf Islands).
• The location of the residence must be within the Greater Victoria area (south of the Malahat, excluding the Gulf Islands).
• The successful applicant will be required to sign a contract that acknowledges the scope of work Horizon will perform as well as the estimated timeline. Any applicant responsibilities, such as acquiring a building owner’s permission, will also be outlined. This contract will not require the homeowner to incur any costs.
• Images of the home and the family may be used on the Horizon Pacific Contracting website. The home’s address will not be published.
• Unsuccessful applicants may reapply for support in future years as long as they meet program criteria.

Disclaimer

Horizon Pacific Contracting reserves the right to postpone selecting a successful applicant if no suitable applications are received. Applications are reviewed by an internal selection panel. Some applicants may be contacted to provide further details. Selections are final.

Application Guidelines:

Tell us:

• Who you are. What your dreams are, what you would like to do with your future.
• How improvements to your current living situation will help you achieve your goals.
• Tell us what renovation is needed to achieve your goals. Please be as specific as you can as this helps us determine the level of work needed. Don’t worry about describing the actual construction component. Focus on what the current situation is and what you would like the situation to be.

Program Timeline:

May 31 – 2019 – Application Deadline – The last date for applications is Midnight on May 31st, 2019 Submissions will be closed and we will re-open submissions for next year’s Step Up Community Build Program at a later date.

June – July – Selection process – Our selection team will review all submissions, contact finalists for further details and scheduling house visits.

End of July – 2019 – Winner(s) Announced – At the conclusion of the home visits we will announce the candidate(s) selected for 2019.

Information Collection / Privacy:

E-mail Policy – We are committed to keeping your e-mail address confidential. We do not sell, rent, or lease our subscription lists to third parties, and we will not provide your personal information to any third party individual, government agency, or company at any time unless compelled to do so by law. We will use your e-mail address solely to provide timely information about program updates for the Step Up Program. Horizon Pacific Contracting will maintain the information you send via e-mail in accordance with applicable federal law.

CAN-SPAM Compliance – In compliance with the CAN-SPAM Act, all e-mail sent from our organization will clearly state who the e-mail is from and provide clear information on how to contact the sender. In addition, all e-mail messages will also contain concise information on how to remove yourself from our mailing list so that you receive no further e-mail communication from us.