June 21, 2006
BRANTFORD -- Today, dignitaries from the Government of Canada, along with Brantford Native Housing staff, guests, and community supporters celebrated National Aboriginal Day by opening a new 20-bed transitional housing facility for homeless Aboriginal people.
Through the Government of Canada's Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI) and the Urban Aboriginal Homelessness initiative (UAH), Brantford Native Housing received a previously announced total of $371,282 towards the purchase and construction costs of the transitional house and other activities. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation also provided $196,000 under the Shelter Enhancement Program.
Attending today's ceremony were William Beatty, Management Advisor Community Development, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); Ralph Summers, Chair, Brantford Aboriginal Homelessness Alliance (BAHA); and Darlene Solomon, UAH Program Director, Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres.
This partnership brings together the Government of Canada, Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres (OFIFC), Brantford Native Housing and the Ontario Trillium Foundation to identify service needs and gaps for individuals and families in the City of Brantford who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
"Canada's new government is proud to support this facility which will provide hundreds of Aboriginal people with safe and accessible housing, said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development."
Brantford Native Housing is a non-profit Corporation. Its main objective is to provide safe, secure, and affordable rental homes for Urban Natives living in the City of Brantford . It offers housing to Status, Non-Status, Metis and Inuit families of low income.
"It is our stand that housing and homelessness are unequivocally linked and each community must deal with it in its own unique fashion and model," said Chel Niro, General Manager of Brantford Native Housing. "It is with this in mind that the Brantford Native Housing Transitional Housing Project, also known as "Empowering the Lifegivers", will best serve and assist those on their healing path, in a safe and supportive surrounding. This focus will assist our residents in maintaining their stabilization and preparedness for a brighter future."
"In the past couple of years while working with Brantford Native Housing, we've been able to understand the inequity in terms of social needs between aboriginal and non-aboriginals and our ability to meet those needs," said Reverend Larry Brown, Chair, Community Advisory Board on Homelessness in Brantford . "There is a far greater percentage of the native population who require these services in contrast to the general public, one reason for this inequity is the legacy of the residential school program."
By working in partnership with community organizations, the private and voluntary sectors, and other levels of government, the National Homelessness Initiative is bringing all stakeholders together to develop local solutions that work to address particular needs and challenges faced by homeless people. Through this coordinated approach, the following programs are available to support communities across Canada : the SCPI, the UAH, the Regional Home lessness Fund, the National Research Program, the Home less Individuals and Families Information System, and the Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative .
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has been Canada 's national housing agency for over 60 years. CMHC is committed to helping Canadians access a wide choice of quality, affordable homes, while making vibrant, healthy communities and cities a reality across the country.
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For further information, please contact:
Catherine Kaye
Service Canada - Ontario Region
(416) 954-7302
Ralph Summers
Brantford Native Housing
(519) 757-1145
Angelina Ritacco
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.
(416) 218-3332
For more information visit:
www.homelessness.gc.ca
www.cmhc.ca
or call 1 800 668-2642
