Bank joins 20,000 Homes Campaign in the fight to end homelessness in Canada
TORONTO, Nov. 3, 2016 /CNW/ - In its ongoing efforts to combat homelessness, the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) is pleased to announce today a $300,000 donation from CIBC in support of its 20,000 Homes Campaign. The gift will support communities across the country as they work to find better, faster and more reliable ways to end homelessness for their most vulnerable neighbours.
This announcement comes as nearly 1,000 policy makers, funders, researchers, advocates, community leaders and front line workers gather today at the 2016 National Conference on Ending Homelessness in London, Ontario.
"Homelessness is a national emergency, but we know it's solvable," says Tim Richter, President & CEO, CAEH. "Thanks to the support of the CIBC we're in a position to help communities take action and achieve meaningful reductions in homelessness."
The 20,000 Homes Campaign is a national movement of communities working together to house 20,000 of Canada's most vulnerable homeless people by July 1, 2018. Supported by CIBC, the CAEH has a small national campaign team working with communities to gather actionable, person specific data on homelessness, set aggressive housing targets, put in place the evidence based practices proven to reduce homelessness and track progress.
"Supporting communities is part of our DNA at CIBC and we are taking action to end homelessness in Canada one community at a time," says Stephen Forbes, Chief Commercial Officer, CIBC. "What makes our country so great is our collective compassion to support those less fortunate, and CIBC is committed to helping the most vulnerable in our communities find housing. It is a basic need that needs addressing."
Through the 20,000 Homes Campaign the City of Hamilton has reduced chronic homelessness by over 35% in just one year. There are 36 communities in eight provinces currently participating in the campaign and more than 4,000 people have been housed to date.
20,000 Homes focuses on housing first, and the principle that people are better able to move forward with their lives if they are first housed. Permanent, safe, appropriate and affordable housing with the support necessary to sustain it should happen first and fast, as housing is a right for all Canadians.
According to the recently released State of Homelessness in Canada: 2016 over 235,000 different Canadians experience homelessness every year with over 35,000 homeless every night. Homelessness costs the Canadian economy over $7 billion every year.
About CAEH
The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness leads a national movement of individuals, organizations and communities working together to end homelessness in Canada. For more information, follow on Twitter @CAEHomelessness, Facebook (www.facebook.com/endinghomelessness) or online at www.caeh.ca.
For more information visit www.20khomes.ca
SOURCE Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH)
Image with caption: "Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) (CNW Group/Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161103_C7921_PHOTO_EN_811098.jpg
Tim Richter, President & CEO, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, P: 587-216-5615, E: [email protected]
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