[CAH] TWO YEAR EXTENSION OF FEDERAL HOMELESSNESS FUNDING

Wed Dec 20 10:23:12 EST 2006

Thanks Darcy.  Glad to hear to good news.  
Best wishes for a Happy Holidays to all.
Cheers, Peggy

>>> Darcy Harvey <dharvey at cahhalifax.org> 2006-12-20 9:54 AM >>>
Good news Members! 

A two year extension of Federal Homelessness Funding. Clear details
about the program have not yet been communicated however we will
continue to keep you updates as new information comes in.

Darcy

news release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CANADA'S NEW GOVERNMENT COMMITS $526 MILLION TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS AND
EXTEND FUNDING FOR RENOVATION PROGRAMS

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, December 19, 2006-Today, the Honourable Diane Finley,
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, announced $526
million for the new Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS), a strategy
aimed at combating homelessness in communities across Canada and
extending CMHC's renovation programs.

The new Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) will be funded at $270
million over two years. 

The new Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) includes:

  a.. Consulting with stakeholders from the private and non-profit
sectors and listening to their concerns; 
  b.. Partnering with the provinces and territories in the new year to
determine how funding will be effectively allocated across Canada,
thereby addressing the unique needs of many Canadian communities similar
to the Canada-Quebec Agreement model; 
  c.. Providing greater access to support networks appropriate to
individual needs of homeless people (such as skills training, health and
substance abuse treatment) to help them attain self-sufficiency and full
participation in Canadian society; 
  d.. Requiring that funding be specifically targeted at the
development of transitional and supportive housing; and 
  e.. Tracking progress in the prevention and reduction of
homelessness. 

"This announcement will help The Salvation Army give hope today and
everyday by investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked
people in communities across Canada," said Commissioner of The Salvation
Army, Christine MacMillan. "We are extremely grateful for the generous
support of the federal government and we value this partnership and
their commitment to supporting vulnerable Canadians." 

./2

"Canada's New Government is delivering on its commitment to help those
who are homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless," said Minister
Finley. "We consulted with stakeholders - those on the front lines
giving assistance everyday to families in need - and listened to their
concerns. In the New Year, we will bring the provinces and territories
to the table to better address the needs of particular regions and
communities. But most importantly, this Homelessness Partnering Strategy
gives hope to the homeless with sustainable solutions to become active
members of Canadian society."

"Today's announcement is good news for Quebec," said Minister Cannon.
"Our new Homelessness Partnering Strategy will help ensure that funding
is provided for the next two years to help those who need it most, and
will build on the existing Canada-Quebec Agreement." 

"This new Homelessness Partnering Strategy will allow for important
partnerships to develop solutions to reducing homelessness," said John
Dickie, President of the Canadian Federation of Apartment Associations.

As a part of this $526 million investment, Minister Finley announced
$256 million for the two-year extension of Canada Mortgage and Housing
Corporation's (CMHC) renovation programs for low-income households. 
These home modifications help seniors and persons with disabilities
remain independent in their homes, and preserve the housing for people
who are at risk of homelessness. These programs will help improve the
living conditions for some 38,000 low-income people including seniors,
persons with disabilities, victims of family violence and Aboriginal
peoples.

To help ensure Canadians have safe, adequate and affordable housing,
Canada's New Government also announced an investment of $1.4 billion in
Budget 2006.  This investment is being made through the establishment of
three housing trusts for the provinces and territories to invest in
affordable housing. 

Human Resources and Social Development Canada's Homelessness Partnering
Strategy will take effect April 1, 2007.

-30-

Please see attached backgrounder for further details.  This news
release is available in alternative formats upon request.

./3

For more information (media only):

      Colleen Cameron

      Minister Finley's Office

      (819) 994-2482

     Media Relations

      Human Resources and Social Development Canada

      819-994-5559

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BACKGROUNDER

Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS)

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) is a new federal program to
combat homelessness in Canada by putting into place the structures and
supports needed to move an individual towards self-sufficiency and
participation in Canadian society. This initiative provides $270 million
over two years. The program will encourage partnerships among all
stakeholders, enhance long-term sustainability for the homeless and
achieve concrete, meaningful and lasting results for Canadians in need.

The HPS improves upon the National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) and
its cornerstone program, the Supporting Communities Partnership
Initiative (SCPI), as follows:

  a.. The strategy invites partnerships with provincial and territorial
governments (similar to the Canada-Quebec Agreement model).  New
partnerships with private and non-profit sectors will also be
encouraged. By working with all stakeholders, the funding can be
allocated effectively to ensure it addresses the unique needs of the
communities in their respective regions.

  a.. The strategy also focuses on a 'housing first' approach, which
reinforces that having shelter is a pre-condition to self-sufficiency
and full participation in society.  As such, the Government of Canada's
funding will be specifically targeted at the development of transitional
and supportive housing.  These capital investments in facilities will
bolster community efforts and complement the health, training and social
investments made by provinces and territories. 

  a.. It encourages federal departments to work together in areas
linked to homelessness - such as corrections, crime prevention, mental
health, family violence, skills development and immigration.  

  a.. It ensures that all federal capital investments are strategically
coordinated with other federal, provincial and territorial investments
in health, training and social services, which will maximize the
opportunity for homeless persons to become self-sufficient.

  a.. It improves the tracking of progress in the prevention and
reduction of homelessness.

  a.. It promotes improved access to supports that respond to the
individual needs of homeless people, such as skills training, health
services, and substance abuse treatment, so that they can become
self-sufficient and move out of emergency shelters and into transitional
or permanent housing.

The HPS is comprised of three initiatives:

1. The Homelessness Partnership Initiative (HPI) is the cornerstone of
the HPS. Its housing-first approach recognizes that the first step is to
house individuals. Afterwards, other supports can be instituted as
required to improve health, parenting, education, and employment.  

The HPI identifies four target areas for funding:

o       Designated communities: These are communities identified as
having a significant problem with homelessness. As with SCPI, these
communities would be able to access multi-year funding which must be
matched from other sources. 

o       Rural and outlying areas:  These areas, which include the
North, will be eligible for funding to support one-time projects to fill
specific gaps in rural infrastructure addressing homelessness. 

o       Partnerships with Aboriginal groups:  These partnerships will
ensure that services meet the acute and unique needs of the homeless
Aboriginal people, whether in cities or rural areas. 

o       Federal horizontal pilot projects: Human Resources and Social
Development Canada will mobilize federal departments such as Health,
Justice, Citizenship and Immigration, and Indian Affairs and Northern
Development to work collaboratively on issues which may lead to
homelessness such as corrections, mental health, family violence, and
immigration.

2. The Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative
(SFRPHI) makes surplus federal property available to community
organizations, the non-profit sector, and other levels of government for
projects to alleviate and prevent homelessness. Under the new HPS,
SFRPHI is more flexible to allow land exchanges.  Community groups can
exchange, under certain conditions, a federal property received under
the SFRPHI for another similar, and more suitable, property.

3. The Homelessness Accountability Network (HAN) streamlines reporting,
strengthens program accountability, develops knowledge and encourages
organizations to reinforce their networks and share best practices. This
network builds upon the Homelessness Individuals and Families
Information System (HIFIS) and National Research Program (NRP)
components of the NHI by facilitating access to, and dissemination of,
housing support information and tools.

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