Backgrounder: Homelessness Partnering Strategy

Homelessness Partnering Strategy

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) is a unique community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing direct support and funding to 61 designated communities in all provinces and territories.

The HPS supports community efforts and allocates funds accordingly, which provides communities with the flexibility to invest in proven approaches that reduce homelessness at the local level. The HPS funds are targeted directly toward community priorities, which have been identified through an inclusive community planning process, involving officials from all orders of government, community stakeholders, and the private and voluntary sectors. The objectives of the HPS are achieved through several funding streams.

Regional Funding Streams

The majority of HPS funding is delivered regionally through three funding streams:

• Designated Communities;

• Rural and Remote Homelessness (non-designated communities); and

• Aboriginal Homelessness.

  These streams focus on the needs of homeless individuals and individuals at imminent risk of homelessness at the local level, and provide funding to help individuals gain and maintain a stable living arrangement.

National Funding Streams

The three national funding streams support the development of innovative approaches to addressing homelessness and a better understanding of the homeless population across the country by supporting better local data collection, and making surplus federal real properties available to organizations that plan to use the facilities to address homelessness. The three national funding streams are: 

• National Homelessness Information System;

• Surplus Federal Real Property Initiative; and

• Innovative Solutions to Homelessness.