Urban Aboriginal Homelessness
Aboriginal homelessness continues to be a serious issue in a number of communities.
With an investment of $45 million over the next three years, the National Homelessness
Initiative (NHI) will continue to address the unique needs of the Aboriginal population
through its Urban Aboriginal Homelessness (UAH) component. Recognizing that community
responses are best to address local needs, homelessness funding is targeted to
coordinated local responses. The UAH component is designed to provide flexibility
to meet the needs of homeless Aboriginal people, through culturally sensitive
services. There will be no cost-matching requirement; however community contributions
will be encouraged where and when possible. UAH will be available to both SCPI
funded and non-SCPI funded communities.
UAH will also coordinate with Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) activities designed
to improve the well-being of urban Aboriginal people and reduce the disparity
between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
UAH and the UAS will together be used to support integrated community planning
and support projects in eight cities Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon,
Regina, Winnipeg, Thunder Bay and Toronto to test new ideas on how to
better respond, through partnership, to the local needs of urban Aboriginal people.
Efforts will focus on enhancing the capacity of Aboriginal organizations to participate
in broader community processes and improve the coordination of all levels of government,
Aboriginal organizations and other partners to find local solutions to the complex
issues facing Aboriginal people.
UAH and the UAS will strive to create more integrated, culturally-appropriate
and community-driven strategies, and solutions that address the wide range of
needs faced by Aboriginal people in the eight pilot cities. Greater knowledge
and awareness of effective approaches to addressing urban Aboriginal issues is
important to identifying solutions to homelessness in this population. Federal
funding will cover up to 100% of the cost of recommended projects.
In SCPI communities Aboriginal organizations will continue to be part of the broader
planning and decision-making process surrounding project selection and funding.
In communities where separate plans have been developed, these plans must be linked
to the broad community plan. These activities will continue to be linked to the
Government of Canada's broader efforts to address urban Aboriginal issues
through its Urban Aboriginal Strategy. In non-SCPI communities funding will be
determined on a project by project basis for proposals that demonstrate need and
that the investments provide appropriate interventions to address local Aboriginal
homelessness issues. Project proponents will be encouraged to develop partnerships
and other funding sources.
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