May 3, 2019 Edmonton, Alberta Employment and Social Development Canada
Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Yet every day, vulnerable Canadians experience homelessness, or are at risk of becoming homeless. The Government of Canada is taking action to help those in need and make a real impact to reduce homelessness across Canada.
Today, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Edmonton Mill Woods, and Randy Boissonnault, Member of parliament for Edmonton Centre on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, highlighted the recently launched Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy. First announced on June 11, 2018, Reaching Home replaces the existing Homelessness Partnering Strategy, and will continue to support communities' efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness in Canada. Reaching Home supports the goals of the National Housing Strategy, including a 50% reduction in chronic homelessness nationally by 2027-28.
Through Reaching Home, the Government of Canada will continue to reinforce the community-based approach to addressing homelessness by delivering funding directly to municipalities and local service providers. Almost $52 million has been allocated to the Designated Community of Edmonton over the next five years under the program.
The Government of Canada will expand the program's reach by adding up to six new communities through an open and transparent process, which is currently underway. Additionally, the Government will continue to work with communities to develop and deliver data-driven systems with clear outcomes. This new outcomes-based approach keeps decision making at the local level and gives communities greater flexibility to address local priorities and achieve results for the most vulnerable within their communities.
Communities will also have three years to introduce coordinated access systems to prioritize those individuals most in need of housing and support services. The Government is committed to supporting communities by providing tools and access to training, as well as technical assistance.
A transition period is in place to ensure service continuity as communities implement the new elements of Reaching Home.
