The Next Step in the Government’s Action Plan on Homelessness
June 2, 2000
This morning, the Federal Coordinator on Homelessness, Claudette Bradshaw, announced the next step in the Government of Canada’s action plan on homelessness.
It will get help to communities that need it most urgently
-- where the day-to-day battle against homelessness takes place.A $305-million investment under the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI) will soon be available to communities across Canada.
SCPI will enable communities to marshal the strengths of various local partners to develop solutions to their unique needs.
It will help them develop a seamless web of supports to enable homeless Canadians to move from the streets and emergency shelters to a more secure life.
80
per cent of the investment will go to those communities where homelessness is most pressing: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, and Halifax.20
per cent will go to communities that can demonstrate a problem with homelessness.These funds will be allocated on a provincial/territorial basis.
The Government of Canada will fund up to 50 per cent of the cost of implementing the plan. The other 50 per cent will come from partners such as other levels of government, and the private and voluntary sectors.
The $305-million SCPI is a key component of the Government of Canada’s national $753 million response to homelessness.
The other national components are:
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- $118 million over three years to expand existing programs for youth and urban Aboriginal peoples;
- $7 million over three years for research, accountability and reporting;
- $311 million over four years for the enhancement of the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) and expansion of the Shelter Enhancement Initiative;
- $2 million to facilitate the development of community plans; an