On April 21st ERA delivered 30 refurbished computer sets to Boyle Street Community Services in Edmonton. The computers will be distributed to some of the group’s clients, all of whom were previously homeless and have been housed through Boyle Street’s housing program – which houses up to 700 people per year.
Metro News noted that while computers may not be the first thing you’d think a person in the housing program would need, they’ve become an increasingly vital tool for finding jobs and staying in touch, Boyle Street’s Executive Director Julian Daly said.
“There’s often the initial euphoria of being housed,” Daly said, “but folks can feel quite isolated after the initial honeymoon phase.”
When people are housed they tend to lose connections with their friends on the street and the people they normally hang out with, he said, especially when they’re placed in areas of the city far from where they used to live.
“[A computer] allows to our guys to connect and reduce the isolation from the wider world.”
ERA was happy to contribute with the 30 computers, and plan to continue supporting Boyle Street through the provision of tech equipment for their clients.
(L-R) ERA’s Jessica Lifely, Boyle Street’s Julian Daly, Edmonton City Centre MLA David Shepherd and ERA’s Kristi Gartner pose with some of the equipment ERA donated to Boyle Street
A room full of computers at Boyle Street Community Services – donated by ERA
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