Government of Canada takes action to address homelessness in the Montréal Area
News Release
June 5, 2017 Montréal, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
Homelessness is a reality for too many Canadians and is a challenge for communities across the country. That is why the Government of Canada promotes cooperation between governments, communities, the private sector and not-for-profit organizations to implement local solutions by providing funding to help reduce and prevent homelessness across Canada.
Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced a government investment of over $436,000 for the Sac à Dos II project. This project will provide a new day centre and create housing for up to 26 people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, thanks to the construction and renovation of permanent housing in the heart of Montréal. The Minister made the announcement at the building’s official inauguration, along with Isabelle Melançon, Member of the National Assembly for Verdun, on behalf of Martin Coiteux, Quebec Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region.
The project is funded under the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS), which aims to prevent and reduce homelessness by offering funding and direct support to 61 designated communities in all provinces and territories across Canada. The funding was granted to Action-Réinsertion Le Sac à Dos, an organization that promotes social and economic inclusion for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, particularly through the creation of a living environment and the development of discussion networks.
Quotes
“We are proud to support this project and the important work being done by the Action-Réinsertion Le Sac à Dos organization. The Government of Canada is committed to helping all Canadians—including those who will come to this centre—access affordable housing and get the support they need to improve their quality of life. Thanks to the outstanding work of organizations like this one, these investments will have a real impact on communities such as Montréal.”
– The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Quick Facts
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In Budget 2016, the Government of Canada announced an additional $111.8 million over two years, starting in 2016-2017, for the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS). This builds on the program’s existing five-year investment of nearly $600 million over five years (2014-2019).
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To give more Canadians access to housing that is safe, adequate and affordable, we recently proposed through our Budget to introduce a National Housing Strategy, supported by an investment of more than $11.2 billion over 11 years, starting in 2017-2018. It is expected that this strategy will help thousands of Canadian households in need find adequate, suitable and affordable housing.
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As part of the National Housing Strategy, Budget 2017 proposes a total investment of $2.1 billion over the next 11 years to expand and extend funding for the HPS beyond 2018-2019, when current funding is scheduled to end.
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Since the launch of the Strategy, nearly 35,000 Canadians who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless have benefitted from education and training opportunities; over 17,000 individuals have received help to find part-time work and 17,000 have received help to find full‑time employment; more than 6,000 new shelter beds have been created; and the program has helped place over 82,000 people in more stable housing.
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In Quebec, the HPS is administered through a formal Canada–Quebec agreement that respects the jurisdiction and priorities of both governments in addressing homelessness.
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Contacts
Émilie Gauduchon-Campbell
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
819-654-5546
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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