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GOVERNMENT OF CANADA INVESTS $405 MILLION TO
REDUCE HOMELESSNESS
March 4, 2003
Vancouver, British Columbia
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, with Minister of Labour and
Federal Coordinator on Homelessness Claudette Bradshaw, today renewed the
Government of Canada’s commitment to combat homelessness by investing $405
million over the next three years to help communities address the needs of
homeless people.
"When we take action to help our most vulnerable citizens, we make
Canada a stronger nation. Shelter and support for homeless people brings dignity
and hope. This helps break the cycle of poverty and strengthens the quality of
life in our communities and cities," said Prime Minister Chrétien.
The Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI), which is the
centrepiece of Canada’s homelessness strategy, provides funding to 61
communities across the country.
The SCPI, established in 1999, takes an innovative community-based approach
to addressing the needs of the homeless, including youth and Aboriginal people.
The SCPI has been successful in increasing the number of shelters and stable
living environments, building capacity at the community level, and increasing
our knowledge and understanding of issues related to homelessness. Over the next
three years, the initiative will broaden partnerships and invest in transitional
and supportive services to help homeless people become more self-sufficient.
"Canadians can be proud of this innovative and successful approach we
are taking in helping those who need it most," said Minister Bradshaw.
"The key to our success has been partnerships. We will continue to
strengthen our relationships with service providers, the voluntary and private
sectors, and other levels of government to reduce homelessness."
The Government of Canada is committed to creative approaches to empowering
communities. In the coming weeks, the federal government will explore, with
partners, how it can contribute further to poverty reduction and neighbourhood
revitalisation. This work will draw on successful experiments such as the
Vibrant Communities Initiative co-sponsored by the Caledon Institute.
Prime Minister Chrétien noted that Canada’s homelessness initiative is a
model that has received global recognition. The Supporting Communities
Partnership Initiative (SCPI) was selected as a Best Practice in the UN-Habitat
2002 International Awards. The UN awards recognize initiatives that have made
outstanding contributions to improving the quality of life in cities and
communities around the world.
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THE SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE
Backgrounder
The Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI), established in
1999, is the centrepiece of Canada’s homelessness strategy. It is a
community-based approach that brings together a variety of partners to find
local solutions to addressing local homelessness issues.
Objectives:
The SCPI aims to:
- alleviate the hardship of those without shelter by increasing, for
example, the number of beds available in shelters;
- coordinate programs and initiatives that address homelessness;
- strengthen and broaden collaborative partnerships;
- facilitate community efforts to build capacity and sustainability; and
- develop a base of knowledge and understanding of issues related to
homelessness.
Over the next three years, the Initiative will also invest in transitional
and supportive services to help homeless people become more self-sufficient.
The SCPI helps 61 communities across Canada plan and implement comprehensive
local strategies to alleviate the challenges faced by homeless people. Of the 61
communities, 10 large urban centres have significant homeless populations. These
centres are Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa,
Montréal, Quebec City and Halifax.
Although homelessness exists across the country, the challenges associated
with it are quite different from one community to another. As a first step,
local service providers, community organizations, and other stakeholders,
including youth and Aboriginal people, develop a Community Plan that identifies
current community resources and gaps in service, and establishes priorities for
helping the homeless in their community. The SCPI model is designed to be
flexible, so that communities can develop responses that reflect local
conditions.
Eligibility:
SCPI funding is available on a shared basis with a 50 per cent matching
requirement from non-federal sources, including private and not-for-profit
agencies, municipal and provincial governments. Matching funds can be cash or
in-kind contributions.
ACHIEVEMENTS IN HELPING THE HOMELESS
Backgrounder
In three years, through community partnerships, the Supporting
Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI) has succeeded beyond expectations.
- Under the SCPI, 61 communities across the country have developed
community plans to address the specific issues facing those who are
homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in their communities.
- More than 7,000 new beds have been created.
- Approximately 563 shelter facilities are receiving funding for building
improvements or renovations.
- More than 331 support facilities, such as food banks and soup kitchens,
are being set up or improved.
- In addition to the Government of Canada investment in this initiative,
$555.9 million has been contributed by other partners.
- More specialized services have been developed to help youth and urban
Aboriginal homeless persons, two of the fastest growing groups that are
facing the challenges of homelessness. This includes facilities such as
shelters serving homeless youth.
- Hundreds of partnerships have been forged across provinces and
territories to help fight homelessness.
The United Nations has recognized Canada for its efforts to address
homelessness. The Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative was nominated
as a Best Practice in the UN-Habitat 2002 International Awards. The Awards
recognize initiatives that have made outstanding contributions to improving
the quality of life in cities and communities around the world.
For more information on Canada’s homelessness strategy, visit:
www.homelessness.gc.ca
Information:
PMO Press Office
(613) 957-5555
Office of the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw
(613) 953-5646
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