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Sea to Sky Community Services housing supported by real estate board

Charity now part of fundraising drive for 2013/14
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Sea to Sky Community Services (SSCS) has been chosen as one of the charities supported by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) for 2013 and 2014.

The REBGV's REALTORS Care Shelter Drive raises funds for housing-related charities and is funded entirely by donations made by realtors. Three charities are selected each year, with donations normally raising around $30,000 to be split three ways.

Estelle Taylor, the SSCS capital campaign coordinator, said REBGV members from the North Shore, Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton had recommended them for consideration as one of the charities for the next year.

"It makes us feel good, that word is getting out about the good work that people think we're doing," Taylor said. "We were really humbled when we learned that we'd been chosen. It was a complete surprise."

She said they had not been aware of the fund before being nominated, adding that there was an affinity between the two organizations and their mandates.

"We're both interested in creating great communities. We feel it's a great fit," she said.

SSCS receives the money after the fundraising for the next year ends.

"It's great. It's a whole year of support and we're hoping that it might become a year of greater connection between us and the realtors in the corridor and more opportunities for partnerships, for them to learn more about the housing-related projects that we do," she said.

SSCS put forward several proposals to the REBGV about uses for the funds raised, including their homeless outreach work, the low-income housing developments they manage and the new Centrepoint building project in Squamish.

"We will see where the need is greatest and it might be through discussions over the next several months that we might see that they have an area they want to focus on and we'll take that into consideration," Taylor said.

Sandra Wyant, president of the REBGV, said they looked forward to the next year of support.

"Sea to Sky Community Services does critical work to help people most in need find adequate shelter and access the services they need. Our association and the realtors we represent, looks forward to supporting this important work through our REALTORS Care Shelter Drive," she said in an email.