The Regional Homelessness Fund (RHF) is designed to provide support to small and rural communities experiencing homelessness in their local areas. These communities often lack the capacity to respond to homelessness issues. Homeless individuals or those at risk of homelessness must often move to larger urban centers to access homeless-related supports and services. This in turn can place a burden on these larger communities' service systems.

Through a Government of Canada allocation of $13 million over three years the RHF will provide funding and support to proposals primarily from communities not funded by SCPI to help them prevent at-risk individuals from becoming homeless. Funding and support will be determined on a project-by-project basis for proposals that demonstrate a need and that would provide effective interventions to address local homelessness issues. Both remedial and preventative activities will be eligible for funding. Federal funding will cover up to 100% of the cost of recommended projects. However, communities will be encouraged to develop partnerships and find additional funding sources.

The RHF will help small communities to establish the support services necessary to prevent at-risk individuals and families from becoming homeless and help stabilize their living conditions. The fund encourages the development of a wide range of partnerships and takes the unique needs of youth populations into consideration in the planning and implementation processes.

The RHF may also be available to small SCPI communities facing capacity challenges. Community organizations within these communities, who often lack the capacity to participate in the fuller SCPI process, will have access to funding to support their efforts to address youth homelessness. SCPI communities, however, must link RHF proposals with the broader community plan to ensure complementarity of services and overall coordination of investments.