Addressing Homelessness and Encampments
Unsheltered homelessness and encampments impact communities across Canada, affecting some of the most vulnerable Canadians, including 2SLGBTQI+ youth, Black and racialized people, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous people.
Through Solving the Housing Crisis: Canada's Housing Plan, the federal government is taking a leadership role by providing funding and coordinating with other orders of government to increase housing supply, affordability, and improve access to vital services.
This includes allocating $250 million, as outlined in Budget 2024, to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness. This federal support will help communities open more shelter spaces, transitional homes and services to help people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and living in encampments find more stable housing solutions.
The federal government will distribute funds to provinces and territories, who will in turn match this funding, to support communities facing the most pressure. By addressing homelessness in Canada, we will ensure that all people in Canada have a safe and affordable place to call home.
How will funding be delivered?
Homelessness is a shared responsibility. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada is working with provinces and territories on the delivery of this initiative to maximize alignment, select communities and confirm commitments to support and fund community-level efforts.
What will the federal funding be used for?
In order to support investments needed for community-specific contexts, federal funding under this initiative could go toward a wide range of services and capital projects, such as shelter renovations, modular transitional housing, and outreach services, which will make a tangible difference in supporting unsheltered individuals to obtain housing.
Which communities are expected to receive this support?
Funding under this initiative will be targeted to communities with demonstrated need, as well as readiness to move quickly with combined provincial/territorial and federal investment to support projects with measurable outcomes that will reduce the rate of unsheltered homelessness. Readiness includes having a common community vision, strong collaborative processes, and systems in place to implement solutions.
How will community partners be engaged?
Addressing unsheltered homelessness and encampments requires a sustained and multisectoral response. A Community Encampment Response Plan is a requirement under the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative. This is to help ensure that communities are moving forward in a coordinated and outcomes-driven manner. Coordinated planning, clear communication and community buy-in are critical to ensuring the success of this initiative.
Contact us
For any questions related to the unsheltered homelessness and encampments funding, contact:
hpd.rh.info-info.vcs.dpmi@infc.gc.ca.
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