January 20, 2014 – Portage la Prairie, Manitoba – Employment and Social Development
The Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), today announced Government of Canada measures that will help reduce homelessness in Manitoba.
The Canadian Mental Health Association’s House of Hope project is receiving more than $1 million in federal funding. The funding is provided through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, which assists Canadians facing homelessness, allowing them to focus on improving their health, social and employment situations.
This project will help build eight transitional housing units and one storage space in Portage la Prairie, as well as help improve existing housing.
Andrew McGrath
Office of the Minister of State (Social Development)
819-953-2351
andrew.mcgrath@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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Homelessness Partnering Strategy
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 designated communities across Canada.
The Housing First approach, announced in Economic Action Plan 2013, recognizes that housing stability is an important first step in addressing homelessness. It is also necessary for the success of other interventions such as education and training, the development of life skills and the management of mental health issues.
Housing First involves first giving people who are homeless a place to live, and then providing the necessary supports (e.g. for mental illness) to help them stabilize their lives and recover as well as possible. Research has shown that Housing First is the most effective approach in reducing chronic homelessness while alleviating pressure on other shelter, health and judicial services.
Since the launch of the HPS in April 2007, the federal government has approved over $740 million for projects to prevent and reduce homelessness across Canada. The HPS provides structures and supports that help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to achieve self-sufficiency and participate fully in society. The federal government seeks to address homelessness by working in partnership with the provinces and territories, as well as with communities, the private and not-for-profit sectors.
Most HPS funding is delivered through the Community Entity model. Under this model, through a single contribution agreement, the Government of Canada entrusts an organization, often the community’s municipal government, with the ability to manage HPS projects in the local area based on their community plan. The Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation is the community entity working in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association to manage the House of Hope project.
In September 2008, the Government of Canada committed to more than $1.9 billion in funding for housing and homelessness over five years. As part of this commitment, the Government has renewed the HPS until March 2014. Economic Action Plan 2013 committed $119 million per year over five years until March 2019 for the HPS using a Housing First approach.
For more information on the HPS and its seven funding streams, visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/homelessness.
