About HRSDC | Our Offices | Programs & Services | A-Z Index March 17, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NANAIMO, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Senator Jack Austin, on behalf of the Honourable Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing, today announced funding of $1,075,110 that is helping to address homelessness in Nanaimo. The funding is provided under the Government of Canada's National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) to carry out three projects to help alleviate homelessness. "The Government of Canada is pleased to be involved in these projects, which are supporting the community's efforts to help the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless," said Senator Austin. "We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that local priorities are addressed and solutions are found to alleviate homelessness in our communities." The contribution announced today is helping the Haven Society, John Howard Society, and Tillicum Haus Native Friendship Centre Society to establish housing and support services for homeless people living in the Nanaimo area. "This funding is going a long way to help reduce homelessness in Nanaimo," said John Horn, Chair of the Nanaimo Working Group on Homelessness. "It has allowed the stakeholders and partners in this process to make significant progress on our community plan to address this issue, and provides us with the kind of social infrastructure that will have an impact for years to come." These projects are being funded under the updated Nanaimo Community Plan on Homelessness, which was approved in October 2003. Developed in consultation with the community and various stakeholders, the Plan identifies a set of priorities for the City of Nanaimo. Priorities include providing safe, affordable housing; emergency intervention; bridging and continuity of care; agency capacity, coordination, collaboration, and community education; health services; and individual capacity building. By working in partnership with community organizations, the private and voluntary sectors and other levels of government, the NHI is bringing all stakeholders together to develop local solutions to address particular needs and challenges faced by homeless people. The projects announced today are funded under the NHI's Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative, Regional Homelessness Fund, and the Urban Aboriginal Homelessness component. The Government of Canada launched the NHI in December 1999 to support communities' efforts to help Canadians out of homelessness. From 1999 to 2006, over $1 billion is being spent towards the federal government's commitment to addressing homelessness in Canada. Since the launch, the federal government has supported more than 422 projects with a total of more than $84.4 million to alleviate homelessness in B.C. and the Yukon. Funding for these projects was provided for in the 2005 federal Budget. For more information on the projects, see the attached backgrounder. - 30 - For more information on the Government of Canada's National Homelessness Initiative, visit our Web site at www.homelessness.gc.ca For more information contact: Kelly Scarrow Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (604) 666-0572 John Horn Chair, Nanaimo Working Group on Homelessness (250) 754-3331 Backgrounder National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) projects in Nanaimo, British Columbia Under the NHI (2003-2006), the following projects have been approved for funding through the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI), Regional Homelessness Fund (RHF), and the Urban Aboriginal Homelessness (UAH) components. 1) Haven Society - Nanaimo Integrated Housing Services and Homelessness Project $544,847 (SCPI & RHF) Funding has been provided to help lease three houses in the Nanaimo area, each to accommodate four women who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, some with children, and a senior resident. The aim of the project is to foster and coordinate a comprehensive array of services and supports to help homeless individuals to attain and remain in housing using an integrated, coordinated and collaborative partnership approach. This project is being delivered in partnership with Nanaimo and Area Resource Services for Families, the Nanaimo Family Life Association, and the Vancouver Island Health Authority. 2) John Howard Society - Transitional Housing Program $157,651 (SCPI) Funding has been provided to help lease four single family homes to provide transitional housing for 20 male adults, aged 18 and over, recovering from addiction issues (4 clients and 1 peer mentor per house who are all recovering addicts). The aim of the project is to provide safe, drug-free transition housing for men in active recovery from addiction in the Nanaimo area. 3) Tillicum Haus Native Friendship Centre Society - Aboriginal Youth Safe House $372,612 (UAH) Funding has been provided to establish an emergency shelter and support services for youth (aged 12-18). The transitional house will have four safe and supportive beds for homeless youth with the objective of offering services that will end the cycle of homelessness in their lives. Total funding: $1,075,110
