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National Report on Investments and Accomplishments
for the period of December 1999 to March 2004
The National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) has helped forge thousands of partnerships at the local, provincial and national levels that have leveraged substantial resources, valued at more than a half billion dollars, towards the implementation of homelessness projects in Canada. Since December 1999, communities across Canada have undertaken over 2900 projects, funded wholly or in part by the NHI’s Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI), Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) and Youth Homelessness Strategy programs. With a total NHI investment of $365.5 million, these projects have resulted in:
- The creation of over 9,000 new, permanent beds;
- The construction, renovation, and enhancement of 725 different sheltering facilities, including shelters, transitional and supportive housing and 403 different support facilities, such as food banks, soup kitchens and drop-in centres;
- Transfer of 49 federal properties were transferred through the NHI’s Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative (SFRPHI) at a total value of $9 million, which has resulted in the creation of 203 housing units, including shelters, supportive, transitional and affordable housing;
- The creation or enhancement of over 3,600 support services such as housing placement, food and clothing distribution, transportation, information/referrals/follow-up, psychosocial services, emergency health and addiction services, education/life skills, training/employment, legal/financial services, identification acquisition, and more;
- The establishment of over 1,000 different capacity development activities such as local research studies, training, support for the development and management of projects and the implementation of enhanced service coordination within and between organizations; and
- Twenty-nine knowledge and research activities were completed at the national and regional levels. These activities allowed the NHI to develop better research tools and methodologies relating to homelessness in Canada; access better information and data on the homeless population and homelessness issues; increase understanding and knowledge of the homelessness situation; and enhance public access to information.
National Figures as of March 31st, 2004
Percentages reflect the number of NHI-funded projects addressing this activity area.
Through partnerships developed between the NHI and communities, a number of initiatives have developed to address the needs of youth and aboriginal people. Projects funded by the Youth program have increased shelter capacity and staffing to assist youth and refer them to other existing community services to help them make the transition to more stable accommodations. Projects that received funding through the UAS program have provided emergency, transitional and supportive housing options to youth, individuals and families of aboriginal descent. Employment counselling and skills training have also been provided to homeless aboriginal people.
Results are not all in the numbers. Those who are homeless need more than just a place to sleep or a roof over their head to break the cycle of homelessness. Homeless individuals and families require a wide range of supports- access to housing, health services, income support, and employment opportunities. Education and prevention are important aspects of the NHI and vital to breaking the cycle of homelessness.
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