Homelessness Programs
On this page
26. Federal Homelessness Programming
Issue / question
What is the Government of Canada doing to address homelessness?
Suggested response
- This government is working to prevent and reduce homelessness in our communities by investing $5 billion in services such as landlord mediation and short-term rental assistance.
- We are also investing in rent supplements and wrap-around services to Veterans in need.
- This government is setting homelessness reduction targets in collaboration with provinces and territories to focus investments in housing services that give people access to treatment and to end encampments community by community.
Key facts
- Reaching Home is investing $5 billion over nine years, from 2019-20 through 2027-28.
- Between 2018 and 2022 Point-in-Time Counts there was a 38% increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness. Unsheltered homelessness nearly doubled.
- Since 2019, over 170,000 people have received prevention services like landlord mediation and short-term rental assistance. Nearly 95,000 people have been assisted in attaining more stable housing.
Background
- Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy: Launched in 2019 as part of the National Housing Strategy, this program is now a $5 billion investment over nine years, through 2027-28 (including an investment of $1 billion through Budget 2024). Reaching Home provides funding to specific communities through the Designated Communities, Indigenous Homelessness, Rural and Remote Homelessness and Territorial Homelessness streams.
- As of May 2025, Reaching Home has supported over 9,500 projects since April 2019. As a result:
- Over 170,000 people received prevention services such as short-term rental assistance or landlord mediation;
- Over 94,000 people have been assisted in attaining more stable housing;
- Nearly 40,000 people began receiving income assistance; and
- Nearly 16,000 people started new paid employment.
- The Indigenous Homelessness funding stream allocates funding directly to -off reserve organizations that provide culturally appropriate services to Indigenous people experiencing homelessness. The Distinctions-based Approaches stream provides dedicated funding to address specific needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals.
- Through Budget 2022, $18.1 million was invested in Action Research on Chronic Homelessness through 2024-25. Results will enable learning and knowledge-sharing across Canada.
- Veteran Homelessness Program: The Services and Supports Stream provides up to $72.9 million in funding for rent supplements and wrap-around services and the Capacity Building Stream provides up to $6.2 million in funding to support research on Veteran homelessness and capacity building. Projects are now underway and the department is receiving and reviewing results data from recipients.
- Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative: Budget 2024 announced $250 million over two years through 2025-26 to address the urgent issue of unsheltered homelessness. Cost-matched funding agreements have been signed with eight provinces, the three territories, as well as with municipalities in Ontario and Saskatchewan.
- Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund: As part of the Budget 2024 investment in Reaching Home, $50 million is allocated to help communities develop innovative projects to prevent homelessness and accelerate new homes for people experiencing homelessness. The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness will distribute funds to communities and has launched its first call for proposals.
27. Indigenous Homelessness
ERRATUM
In the Indigenous Homelessness note, typographical errors have been corrected in the Background section:
"As of March 31, 2025, CMHC has committed to support the construction of 38 shelters and 50 new transitional homes." should read "As of March 31, 2025, CMHC has committed to support the construction of 37 shelters and 36 new transitional homes."
These errors have been corrected in the English HTML version of the note.
Issue / question
How is the Government of Canada addressing Indigenous homelessness?
Suggested response
- Indigenous peoples are over-represented among those experiencing homelessness, and this government is taking action to address this crisis.
- Over the past decade, this government has committed more than $6.7 billion for housing in Indigenous communities across the country, along with over $4 billion in additional funding to advance an Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy.
- Budget 2024 also announced distinction-based investments of $918 million to address housing and infrastructure gaps in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.
Key points
- Reaching Home allocations over nine years, starting in 2019, include: $889.8 million for the Indigenous Homelessness Stream and $280.6 million for the Distinctions-based Stream.
- Since April 2019, Reaching Home has funded over 3,000 projects that include Indigenous peoples as a priority population, and has assisted nearly 25,000 Indigenous people in attaining more stable housing. Of these projects, 1,204 were funded through the Indigenous Homelessness funding stream.
Background
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) support for Indigenous Homelessness and Housing
- As of 2023, Indigenous peoples make up approximately 31% of the homeless population in shelters although they represent approximately 5% of the general population. In addition, 13.2% of Indigenous peoples are in core housing need compared with 6.9% of non-Indigenous Canadians.
- Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy launched in 2019, and introduced a significant focus on Indigenous homelessness, with dedicated funding to address the unique needs of Indigenous peoples through two funding streams: the Indigenous Homelessness stream and the Distinctions-based stream. Indigenous peoples may also access services and supports from organizations that are funded by the program's other regional streams.
- Reaching Home allocations over nine years, starting in 2019, include $889.8 million for the Indigenous Homelessness Stream and $280.6 million for the Distinctions-based Stream.
- Since April 2019, Reaching Home has funded over 3,000 projects that include Indigenous peoples as a priority population, and has assisted nearly 25,000 Indigenous peoples in attaining more stable housing. Of these projects, 1,204 were funded through the Indigenous Homelessness funding stream.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Funding for Indigenous Housing and Homelessness.
- CMHC and Indigenous Services Canada have partnered to provide over $724 million to the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative. Of this amount, $420 million is dedicated to build at least 38 shelters and 50 new transitional homes. As of March 31, 2025, CMHC has committed to support the construction of 37 shelters and 36 new transitional homes.
- The Shelter Enhancement Program, offers financial assistance to repair, rehabilitate, and improve existing shelters in First Nation communities for survivors of family violence. Since 2015, CMHC has committed over $10 million for 40 beds.
- Permanent bilateral mechanisms with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders are in place to identify joint priorities, co-develop policy and monitor progress, including in many cases joint work on Indigenous housing.
28. Veteran Homelessness
ERRATUM
In the Veteran Homelessness note, a typographical error has been corrected in the Key points section:
"…and $6.1 million is supporting capacity-building and research…." should read "… and $6.2 million is supporting capacity-building and research…"
This error has been corrected in the English HTML version of the note.
Issue / question
What is the Government of Canada doing to address Veteran homelessness?
Suggested response
- Canada's Veterans have served and sacrificed in the name of our country. This government is working closely with partners in every order of government and across the private sector to help them access the housing they need.
- The Veteran Homelessness Program is delivering $72.9 million for rent supplements and wrap-around services like counselling and treatment for substance use, and $6.2 million to support capacity-building and research.
- The priority is to reach Veterans where they are, inform them of the services and benefits available to them, assist them in getting the support they need, and help them find suitable housing.
Key points
- As of April 2025, the Government of Canada estimates that there are over 2,000 Veterans experiencing homelessness across Canada.
- Up to $72.9 million is allocated for rent supplements and wrap-around supports (such as counselling and substance use treatment) and $6.2 million is supporting capacity-building and research (total of $79.1 million through 2027-28).
- Projects are underway.
Background
- In 2019, the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs recommended that the Government of Canada create housing supports for Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. As of April 2025, the Government of Canada estimates that there are over 2,000 Veterans experiencing homelessness across Canada.
- Veteran Homelessness Program
- Budgets 2021 and 2022 announced a total of $106.8 million over five years for the department to launch a new Veteran Homelessness Program to support Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness in partnership with community organizations.
- $72.9 million is allocated to the Services and Supports Stream for rent supplements and wraparound services; 28 recipients are funded through this stream. Additionally, $6.2 million is allocated to the Capacity Building Stream, to fund research and support capacity building; six recipients are funded through this stream.
- Reaching Home
- Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness also have access to programming through Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy funding to communities.
- Since April 2019, the Government of Canada is investing $5 billion over nine years to address homelessness through Reaching Home. Budget 2024 also announced $250 million over two years, starting in 2024-25, to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness.
- Coordinated Point-in-Time Counts in 2016, 2018, 2020-22 and 2024 included a core question on Veteran status. With this data, local resources can be targeted more effectively. Moreover, the Homeless Individuals and Families Information System includes indicators to identify Veterans for referral to tailored services.
- Other initiatives that support Veterans
- The Minister of Veterans Affairs is responsible for various initiatives that support Veterans and organizations that serve them. Budget 2021 announced $140 million over five years starting in 2021-22, and $6 million ongoing, to cover mental health care costs of Veterans while their disability benefit application is processed.
- Other examples include the Veterans Emergency Fund; the War Veterans Allowance; the Assistance Fund; Treatment benefits; programs that care for Veterans with disabilities; and the VAC Assistance Service.
Page details
- Date modified: