February 15, 2019 Québec, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
Homelessness has an economic and social impact on every community in Canada. The Government of Canada is committed to helping those who are in need and believes that one homeless Canadian is one too many.
Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, participated in the Annual General Meeting and 20th year of addressing homelessness in Quebec organized by Le Réseau Solidarité Itinérance du Québec (RSIQ) to discuss the issues and the measures implemented by the Government to prevent and reduce homelessness.
One of the most important roles of the Government of Canada is to support vulnerable Canadians, including those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Government of Canada has committed $2.2 billion over 10 years to tackle homelessness through a redesigned and expanded federal homelessness program. By 2021–22, this will double annual investments compared to 2015-16. Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy will replace the existing Homelessness Partnering Strategy and will officially launch on April 1, 2019.
Reaching Home supports the goals of the National Housing Strategy, including the reduction of chronic homelessness by 50% by 2027-2028. Through these significant investments, Reaching Home aims to support communities in achieving significant reductions in homelessness across the country. Over the next nine years, the Government of Canada aims to place close to 160,000 people in more stable housing.
"The fight against homelessness is not one that Government can fight alone.We need everyone's support to help people who are experiencing homelessness. Support from organizations like the Réseau Solidarité Itinérance du Québec is instrumental to preventing and reducing homelessness in Canada."
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Quick facts
-
As part of the National Housing Strategy, the Government of Canada announced a total investment of $2.2 billion for homelessness over 10 years, building on Budget 2016 funding of $111.8 million over two years. By 2021–22, this will double annual investments compared to 2015–16.
-
Over the past year, the Government of Canada consulted with municipalities, stakeholders, provinces, territories and Indigenous partners on how to improve the federal homelessness program to better prevent and reduce homelessness across Canada. These consultations were guided by the work of an Advisory Committee, chaired by Parliamentary Secretary (Housing and Urban Affairs) Adam Vaughan.
-
In Quebec, the Homelessness Partnering Strategy is delivered through a formal Canada-Quebec agreement that respects the jurisdiction and priorities of both governments in addressing homelessness. Since 2001, five agreements for joint implementation of federal homelessness programming have been concluded, including the current agreement for 2014−2019. In order to implement Reaching Home and allocate funds in Quebec beyond April 1, 2019, negotiations are underway with the Quebec government with the objective of concluding a sixth Canada-Quebec agreement.
