Helping most vulnerable Canadians is a priority for the Government of Canada. The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, visited Progressive Housing Society today to see first-hand the great work being done to prevent and reduce homelessness in Burnaby and New Westminster, British-Columbia. The organization received approximately $2.6 million in Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) funding through the Community Entity (CE) Metro Vancouver Regional District.

“Our Government is committed to preventing and reducing homelessness in Canada. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Even one person on the streets in Canada is too many. We know that by providing the most vulnerable Canadians with a place to live can lift them out of poverty. Projects like this one, by the Progressive Housing Society, connect vulnerable Canadians facing homelessness to essential support programs and services that they need. Connecting people to their communities is something we can all benefit from.”

– Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

“Progressive Housing Society has been a strong partner of the Government of Canada since 2007 with the purchase of our Outreach Van and our Mobile Outreach program development. With continued support and funding from the federal and provincial governments, we have been able provide continued support to the most vulnerable people in our community. We look forward to new opportunities with all levels of government that will help us deliver safe and affordable housing to individuals and families.”

– Jaye Treit, M.ED, Executive Director, Progressive Housing Society

"Homelessness continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing our region and affects every community - not just in densely populated areas. We are grateful for the Government of Canada's continued funding for housing and support for projects in our communities. Progressive Housing has over 30 years' experience delivering services in Burnaby to vulnerable individuals with addictions and mental illness and homelessness, and we are pleased to contribute to their ongoing success."

– Mike Clay, Chair, Metro Vancouver Housing Committee

• Burnaby Housing and Outreach Hub provides Housing First services to homeless populations in Burnaby and New Westminster. During the life of the project, the organization  will house 106 individuals with housing placements, while providing case management services to achieve social and economic goals.

• As part of the National Housing Strategy, the Government of Canada announced a total investment of $2.2 billion over 10 years to expand and extend the Homelessness Partnering Strategy.

• This is in addition to the $111.8 million over two years announced through Budget 2016, starting in 2016–17, for the HPS. This builds on the program’s existing investment of nearly $600 million over five years (2014−2019).

• Since April 2014, more than 26,000 people were placed into more stable housing through HPS-funded interventions. Of those contacted six months following their placement 80% remained housed. The HPS has funded projects to assist over 35,000 people to access Social Assistance, Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, etc. which improved their income stability. It also funded projects that supported over 5,000 people in finding full-time jobs and over 5,500 in part-time jobs, supported over 6,600 begin a job training program, and helped over 6,000 people in pursuing education.

Related products

• Backgrounder: Homelessness Partnering Strategy

Associated links

• Homelessness Partnering Strategy

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
Follow us on Twitter