January 21, 2003

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SHAWINIGAN, QUEBEC - The Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour and Federal Coordinator on Homelessness, today announced funding of $155,000 under the Youth component of the National Homelessness Initiative, to help alleviate youth homelessness.

"No young person should have to endure a life on the streets," said Minister Bradshaw. "That is why the Government of Canada is committed to supporting local community efforts to address the needs of young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Together we can make a difference."

The Centre Roland-Bertrand will receive $130,000 to develop a four-unit transitional housing project that will benefit youth in the community. This project will offer these young people the supports they need to create a healthier lifestyle for themselves and to avoid returning to life on the streets. The Centre Roland-Bertrand will also use this funding to purchase a cube van to respond more effectively to the needs of its clients and other community groups.

In addition, the St. Vincent de Paul's Entraide Populaire operates a shop where clients can buy new or used clothing at an affordable price. The profits made through this shop go towards other St. Vincent de Paul programs. The Government of Canada contribution of $25,000 to Entraide Populaire will be used to purchase a pick-up truck and a machine to compress bundles of old clothing for recycling, which will help Entraide Populaire in its work.

"Thanks to the National Homelessness Initiative, 361 projects in Quebec worth $69,552,000 have been approved since the initiative began," added Minister Bradshaw.

The $753-million 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 develop 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; the Urban Aboriginal and Youth components 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.

Funding 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:
Serge Maltais Government of Canada (819) 536-6002	David Klug Minister Bradshaw's office (819) 953-5646