QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC, May 20, 2008-Families and individuals in Québec City working to break free from the cycles of homelessness and poverty and build a stronger future for themselves are getting help from the Government of Canada.
Mr. Daniel Petit, Member of Parliament for Charlesbourg-Haute-Saint-Charles, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today celebrated $40,000 in funding for the Centre Multi-Services Le Complice 16-30 ans La Source under the Homelessness Partnership Initiative (HPI), the cornerstone of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS).
"Our government is delivering on its commitment to help those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless," said Mr. Petit. "We are proud to support community efforts that help find local solutions to local problems. Through this investment, Centre Multi-Services Le Complice 16-30 ans La Source will be able to implement services that help young adults in need."
The event took place at the Centre Multi-Services Le Complice 16-30 ans La Source. Through their project, Accompagnement au logement et à l'intégration social (A.L.I.S), the organization hopes to reach 60 to 80 young adults a year. The aim is to offer their clients transitional housing as well as services that will lead to employment, education, more permanent housing, better health, a sense of security and a larger social network. This funding will cover the salary of a support worker who will help the organization reach this goal.
"Since January 2007, more than 50 young adults have received assistance from the services of Accompagnement au logement et à l'intégration social. Through this service, young people ages 16 to 30 receive personalized assistance that is adapted to their needs with a view to fostering access to good living conditions, so that these young people are able to integrate into society more easily and take charge of their lives," said Isabelle Bozza, the coordinator of the Centre Multi Services Le Complice 16-30 ans La Source. "We need this new funding to continue our efforts to prevent homelessness, even delinquency, among young adults."
On February 22, 2008, Minister Solberg announced that 505 projects totalling almost $150 million had been approved under the HPS to prevent and reduce homelessness in Canada. The announcement made today is part of this total funding.
This project is part of a $24.7 million commitment for 214 projects to fight homelessness in Quebec since April 2007.
The HPS is providing $269.6 million over two years to help communities across Canada combat homelessness more effectively. The Strategy recognizes that housing stability is essential to self-sufficiency and full participation in Canadian society. It focuses on transitional and supportive housing as important measures to help people overcome homelessness. With its clear goals of improved partnerships, enhanced sustainability and tangible results, the Strategy will provide concrete, meaningful and lasting results for Canadians in need.
"Our government is investing more in affordable and supportive housing than any federal government in Canada's history, and as a result, we are helping tens of thousands of Canadians reach a better, more stable life," said Mr. Petit.
The link between homelessness and mental illness is well established. In 2007, Prime Minister of Canada announced the first-ever Mental Health Commission of Canada, and in Budget 2008, we committed $110 million for the Commission to develop new innovative demonstration projects that will help Canadians facing mental health and homelessness challenges.
In January 2008, the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec signed a collaborative agreement with regard to the designated community and outreach community components of the HPI. This agreement takes into account the ways in which the HPI complements the Government of Quebec's programs and policies to address homelessness.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For more information on the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, please visit www.homelessness.gc.ca.
For further information (media only):
Pascal Doucet
Media Relations Coordinator
Service Canada Communications
514-982-2384, ext. 2209
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
