Following the announcement of the National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) in December 1999, 61 communities developed Community Plans to guide their efforts to reduce and prevent homelessness. Three years later, the Community Plan continues to be a critical tool for communities to maintain the community-driven process, identify community needs, and develop innovative and effective strategies to meet local requirements to both prevent and reduce homelessness.

In the 2003 federal Budget, the Government of Canada indicated its intention to continue the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI). On March 4, 2003, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Minister Claudette Bradshaw, the Federal Coordinator on Homelessness, announced an additional $405 million to be invested over the next three years to help communities address the needs of homeless and at-risk people. Given this additional federal funding and the evolving needs of the homeless population, communities are required to update the Community Plans to address homelessness.

Please find below the Community Plan Update template, as well as a document intended to provide guidelines to assist community groups in understanding the rationale and requirements for Community Plan updates in the context of the National Homelessness Initiative. Also below, is a Sustainability Tool which may be of assistance to communities in the development of partnerships and capacity building.

	Community Plan Update Template *	(291kB)
	Guidelines *	(53kB)
	Sustainability Tool *	(161kB)

* If required, a Word Perfect version can be obtained by contacting Greg Scharff (819) 997-7908 or Shkelzen Saraqini (819) 956-8882.