Government of Canada supports project to help women and children facing homelessness
SAINT JOHN, NB, Nov. 10, 2017 /CNW/ - Women and their children who flee family violence often become homeless after escaping their situation, but a new project may help reduce those numbers. Today, Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John–Rothesay, announced that the Government of Canada is providing more than $241,000 to support a six-month project designed to study ways to support women and children who are chronically or periodically homeless due to family violence. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. Funding was provided through the Innovative Solutions to Homelessness funding stream of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS).
As part of the "Thrive" project, First Steps Housing Project Inc. will work with six homeless and other non-profit service providers in Saint John and neighbouring rural areas to assess existing resources and create a model that will streamline services and provide more comprehensive support. The goal is not only to help prevent homelessness in an urban–rural context, but also to develop a plan that could be adapted for similar communities across Canada.
Quotes
"Congratulations to First Steps and local non-profits for their successful proposal to find innovative ways to help women and children escaping violence get support and avoid becoming homeless. By working together, we can make a real difference in the lives of all Canadians."
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
"The Government of Canada is proud to support organizations like First Steps and its partners, which are taking innovative approaches to help reduce homelessness. The Thrive project is a great example of how groups can work together to help women and children who flee domestic violence and are at risk of becoming homeless, not only in the Saint John area, but across the country."
– Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John–Rothesay
Quick Facts
- To give more Canadians access to housing that is safe, adequate and affordable, Budget 2017 introduced a National Housing Strategy, supported by an investment of more than $11.2 billion over 11 years, starting in 2017–2018. It is expected that this strategy will help thousands of Canadian households in need find adequate, suitable and affordable housing.
- As part of the National Housing Strategy, Budget 2017 announced a total investment of $2.1 billion from 2018–2019 to 2027–2028 to expand and extend funding for the HPS.
- This investment builds on funding provided through Budget 2016 of $111.8 million over two years ($57.9 million in 2016–2017 and $53.9 million in 2017–2018). It is also an addition to the program's existing five-year investment of nearly $600 million over five years (2014−2019).
- Since April 1, 2014, the renewed HPS has helped more than 5,000 Canadians who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless begin education and nearly 5,000 begin job training; more than 10,000 Canadians have received help to find work, half of which began full-time jobs; more than 500 new beds have been created, 50 percent of which were in permanent supportive housing; and the program has helped place over 32,500 people in more stable housing.
Related Product
Backgrounder: Homelessness Partnering Strategy
Associated Links
Homelessness Partnering Strategy
Funding: Innovative Solutions to Homelessness
Backgrounder
Homelessness Partnering Strategy
Through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, qualified organizations and other eligible recipients may receive funding for projects to help prevent and reduce homelessness in Canada. These projects are funded through regional and/or national funding streams.
Regional projects
Funding delivered regionally focuses on the needs of homeless and at-risk individuals at the local level, and aims to help individuals gain and maintain a stable living arrangement. The three regional streams are:
- Designated Communities
- Rural and Remote Homelessness (non-designated communities)
- Aboriginal Homelessness
National projects
The national funding streams help to develop a better understanding of homelessness based on local data collection, and make surplus federal real properties available to organizations that plan to use the facilities to address homelessness. The three national streams are:
- National Homelessness Information System
- Surplus Federal Real Property Initiative
- Innovative Solutions to Homelessness
Innovative Solutions to Homelessness funding stream
The Innovative Solutions to Homelessness funding stream is delivered nationally and supports the development of the best innovative approaches to reducing homelessness.
Funding can be used to support activities in three key areas:
- supporting community-based innovative projects to reduce homelessness and/or the cost of homelessness;
- building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders; and
- testing and/or sharing tools, social metrics, and research findings geared towards homelessness.
The call for proposals was open from September 23, 2016, to November 14, 2016.
Contribution projects
The Contribution projects call for proposals for funding between $25,000 and $500,000 invited stakeholders, organizations and new partners to apply for funding for large-scale pilot projects that aim to test innovative and promising interventions and practices to prevent or reduce homelessness in Canada over a period of up to two years.
Microgrant projects
The Microgrants call for proposals for funding up to $25,000 invited stakeholders, organizations and new partners to apply for funding for small-scale experimental projects. These smaller projects will focus on developing or testing innovative approaches, tools or concrete practices that prevent or reduce homelessness in Canada.
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
For further information: For media enquiries, please contact: Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]
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