January 13, 2003

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WINDSOR, ONTARIO—Nine local organizations are set to increase the support services available to homeless individuals as well as those at risk of being homeless. The Honourable Susan Whelan, Minister for International Cooperation and Member of Parliament for Essex, today announced funding of $906,654 under the Government of Canada’s National Homelessness Initiative, on behalf of the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour and Federal Coordinator on Homelessness. This funding is provided through the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI) and the Youth component of the SCPI.

“I would like to commend these nine organizations for their efforts in addressing the needs of homeless individuals and those at risk of becoming homeless,” said Minister Whelan. “Today’s announcement will go a long way in helping to ensure that much needed services are accessible here in Windsor-Essex County.”

The Government of Canada’s contribution will support a number of different activities being facilitated by these community organizations. This funding will increase access to emergency shelter, transitional housing, basic needs such as transportation subsidies, and outreach services. It will also enhance coordination of food bank services, evaluation of local efforts and youth focused employment and life skills opportunities. Refer to the backgrounder for more information.

“The Windsor-Essex Taking Action Against Homelessness Together Coalition is very pleased with our funded SCPI projects,” said Marina Clemens, Chair of the Homeless Coalition. “The coalition has worked long and hard with the various partners to make these projects a reality within our community. All of the projects touch the core of homelessness in one way or another and our hope is that SCPI funds will be continued for some years to come. The coalition continues the work of coordination, data collection and community awareness with an eye to working together to find long term solutions to this ever-growing national concern.”

“Homelessness is a complex issue, and it is encouraging to see all three levels of government and community agencies working together in Windsor to address the needs of homeless people,” said Brenda Elliott, Ontario’s Minister of Community, Family and Children’s Services.

The Ontario government provides ongoing funding to the City of Windsor for several programs that help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. In 2002, the Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services provided $341,000 to Windsor. On top of this, the ministry also provided $384,000 to Windsor for emergency shelter operations in 2001, the most recent year that the annual total is available, and $217,000 for emergency shelter operations in the first seven months of 2002.

The National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) works in partnership with community organizations, the private sector and all levels of government to help Canada’s homeless people by bringing together various partners to encourage the development of local solutions that work to address particular homelessness needs and issues. Through this coordinated approach, the following programs are available to support communities across Canada: the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative; Urban Aboriginal Strategy; the Youth component of the NHI; the Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative; and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Renovation and Conversion Programs, as well as the Shelter Enhancement Program.

The National Homelessness Initiative is making a difference in addressing this issue by encouraging the development of local solutions to help alleviate homelessness. Funding for the Initiative was provided for in the December 2001 federal Budget and is built into the existing fiscal framework.

For more information on the Government of Canada’s National Homelessness Initiative, visit our Web site at www.homelessness.gc.ca

For more information, contact:
Brian Groat Government of Canada (416) 954-7810	David Klug Minister Bradshaw’s office (819) 953-5646
Lou Durnbeck Minister Whelan’s office (519) 776-5272

Funding for the following projects was provided under the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI):

Housing Information Services ‘Transitional Housing Project’—$234,819
This project will address the transitional housing needs of low-income adults, families and youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Windsor-Essex County. Up to 25 transitional housing units will be created, including necessary repairs and furnishings. Persons/families participating will also have access to supportive services, life skills training, and counselling.

Kingsville Youth Association ‘T.H.R.I.V.E. Transitional Housing Resource Improving Vitality in Essex’—$194,550
Transitional housing and support services will be provided for rural individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Essex County. The SCPI funding will be used for program coordination, insurance and administrative costs, supplies, and transportation costs.

Housing Information Services ‘Ticket to Ride’—$113,319
This project will provide transportation subsidies for up to 2,017 persons (1,545 adults and 472 youth) who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Windsor-Essex County. This service will help to alleviate barriers clients face in overcoming homelessness and will help ensure that they have access to housing, food banks, employment programs, medical services, and other basic and emergency needs.

Well-Come Centre for Human Potential ‘Well-come Shelter Enhancement’—$110,080
This funding will be used to renovate and retrofit an existing eight-bed shelter, thereby creating three more bed spaces. Sheltered homeless women will have direct on-site access to appropriate support services.

The United Church Downtown Mission of Windsor Inc. ‘Street Help-Off the Street’—$61,776
The ‘Street Help-Off the Street’ project will facilitate an outreach street patrol service that will refer approximately 400 homeless people to government support services, hostels, food banks, and other essential services. Street patrol workers will patrol by foot, two nights per week in the downtown area. The advocate workers will staff satellite offices and provide on-site referral services.

Iris Residential Inns and Services ‘Transitional Housing Project’—$57,200
This is an interior construction project that involves purchasing and installing equipment to enhance the services offered in 20 transitional housing units (of this a 55-unit residence) for persons with serious mental illness who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Unemployed Help Centre ‘Provision of Support Services-Purchase of Food Bank Van’—$25,000
This funding will be used to purchase and operate a van that will help to support efforts to increase current food donations to local food banks by 4,050 pounds monthly. These donations will be distributed to member agencies allowing those in need to access fresh food products.

Funding for the following projects was provided under the Youth component of the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI):

Phoenix Wholistic Health Care Centre (Teen Health Centre) ‘Back on Track Project’—$57,410
This project will respond to the basic needs of 35 homeless and at-risk youth, between the ages of 16 to 24, over 12 months. Youth will also have access to support services, weekly social and recreational activities, and adventure-based learning opportunities.

Kingsville Youth Association ‘On the Road to Accessibility, Ensuring Homeless Youth Access Services’—$52,500
The Kingsville Youth Association will purchase a 7-10 person van to provide homeless youth and those at risk of becoming homeless with transportation that will enable them to access the food bank, employment opportunities, support services, emergency and transitional housing. It is estimated that approximately 400 to 500 youth will benefit from this service.

________________________________________________________________________ TOTAL FUNDING: $906,654