$50-million from feds to assist nation’s homeless, with Ontario municipalities already leading the charge

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Published October 29, 2024 at 2:38 pm

$50-million coming from the feds to assist the nation's homeless, with Ontario municipalities are already leading the charge

The federal government has launched a massive $50-million incentive to combat homelessness, yet some communities in Ontario are already ahead of the curb.

An official release from the Federal Department of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities noted that the $50-million will be distributed amongst provinces to fast-track homeless prevention initiatives alongside strategies to support those already unhoused.

This initial injection is just a drop in the bucket compared to future plans, as it is part of the greater $1-billion Canada Homelessness Strategy.

“Together with new housing investments, we’re hopeful we can begin to reverse the lethal trajectory of homelessness in Canada, said Tim Richter, CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness in an official statement.

Alongside the $50-million is an additional $1.3-million to help support homeless veterans through the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) and its Built for Zero Canada program

However, some locations in Canada are already leading by example as London and St. Thomas-Elgin in Ontario have already completely reduced veteran homelessness in their municipalities.

Federal authorities plan to use the examples set by Ontario municipalities to assist the other 26 communities across Canada supported by the Built for Zero strategy, as Ginette Petitpas Taylor, the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence said in an official statement that, “the project led by the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness project will meet communities where they are, build partnerships and share tried-and-tested practices to be there for Canada’s Veterans.”

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