BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, July 8, 2010—Thanks to support from the Government of Canada, young Aboriginal mothers will continue to be able to benefit from a transitional housing facility in the Burnaby area. Senator Yonah Martin made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
“Our government is giving a hand-up to Canadians with housing needs, and is helping those seeking to break free of the cycle of homelessness and poverty here in Burnaby,” said Senator Martin. “Through this investment, Aunt Leah’s Society will be able to continue to provide transitional housing, and expand existing support services, to help young Aboriginal mothers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness achieve independent living.”
Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society will receive $666,500 through the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy to purchase a facility, which the Society is currently renting and using for transitional housing. This will provide a safe and engaging place for young Aboriginal mothers who are homeless or vulnerable to homelessness to learn the life skills necessary for their development. An average of eight to ten mothers a year will go through the program offered at Aunt Leah’s House.
“Through the generous financial support of the Government of Canada, Aunt Leah’s has purchased its first House,” said Ms. Gale Stewart, Founder and Executive Director of the Society. “Aunt Leah’s House is a fully licensed program for Aboriginal teen mothers. This purchase will ensure that vulnerable young mothers always have support and a home to return to.”
In September 2008, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $1.9 billion over five years, until 2014, for housing and homelessness programs for low-income Canadians. This commitment gives the Government the flexibility to work with the provinces and territories and municipalities, and with charitable organizations, to develop ways to improve the effectiveness of federal spending in the area of housing and homelessness.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan has built on these investments by making an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing, and by making available up to $2 billion in loans to Canadian municipalities over two years for housing-related infrastructure improvements. The Government’s investments are creating jobs, stimulating local economies and improving the quality of life for many Canadians. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
The availability of safe and stable housing and related supports is an important element in addressing homelessness and helping individuals who are homeless achieve greater self-sufficiency and a better quality of life. The Homelessness Partnering Strategy emphasizes longer-term supportive and transitional housing by focusing on a housing-first approach to help people make the transition out of the cycle of homelessness.
For more information on the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/homelessness.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
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 communities across Canada. The HPS took effect April 1, 2007, with annual funding of $134.8 million for two years, and was extended in 2008 for a further two years until March 31, 2011.
The HPS provides structures and supports that help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless achieve self-sufficiency and full participation in society. This model seeks to address homelessness by working in partnership with the provinces and territories, other federal departments, as well as with communities and the private and not-for-profit sectors.
By working with all our partners, we will maximize results to make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable Canadians. The Homelessness Partnering Strategy provides the support that our community partners are seeking.
The Homelessness Partnering Strategy uses a housing-first approach, recognizing that the first step is to provide individuals with transitional and supportive housing.
The HPS has seven funding streams:
Regionally Delivered:
- Designated Communities
- Outreach Communities
- Aboriginal Communities
Nationally Delivered:
- Federal Horizontal Pilot Projects
- Homelessness Knowledge Development
- Homeless Individuals and Families Information System
- Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative
For more information on the Homelessness Partnering Strategy and the seven funding streams, please visit the following Web site: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/homelessness.
