Canada    
News release

May 6, 2004

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Valley area receives funding to address issues of homelessness

KENTVILLE, NOVA SCOTIA - The Honourable Scott Brison, Member of Parliament for Kings-Hants and the Honourable Robert Thibault, Member of Parliament for West Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for Homelessness, announced $236,751 in funding to address issues of homelessness in Kings and Annapolis Counties. Funding for this project is being provided through the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI), a key component of the Government of Canada's National Homelessness Initiative (NHI).

"This funding enables the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board to assess the resources and level of services currently available to address homelessness in the Valley area," said the Honourable Scott Brison. "The School Board will identify community organization and client needs, existing gaps in services and how the community can work together to close these gaps and enhance collaborative efforts among government departments and community organizations."

"Homelessness exists in rural areas and people are at risk of becoming homeless," said the Honourable Robert Thibault. "It is essential that we provide Canadians with the necessary interventions and resources to meet their needs in their own communities so that we don't lose them to larger urban centres or further into hardship and despair."

According to Dr. Jim Gunn, Superintendent of Schools and Chair of Western Regional Child and Youth Action Committee (CAYAC), "The Annapolis Valley Regional School Board is committed to working together with other government and community agencies in the area of poverty intervention. Accessing this new funding under the National Homelessness Initiative enables the Board to support CAYAC and to meet its commitment to poverty intervention in a tangible way."

The Annapolis Valley Regional School Board, a typical P-12 public school board, has in the past several years been proactive in working with youth who have difficulty functioning in the regular school system. The Western Regional Child and Youth Action Committee, one of four regional bodies across Nova Scotia made up of provincial government departments and local public agencies dedicated to youth and children services, will coordinate the Building for Capacity in the Annapolis Valley project. Funding will enable the Western Regional Child and Youth Action Committee to assess the needs of and the resources and services available to assist those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in the Kings and Annapolis Counties. The Committee will work with community organizations and service providers to develop and implement new solutions, enhance existing solutions and build the community's capacity to address homelessness in the area.

The Western Regional Child and Youth Action Committee's homelessness initiative steering committee is comprised of local community agencies and service providers such as the Red Door Adolescent Health and Support Centre, Victory Over Violence Emergency Teen Shelter, Interchurch Housing Society and the Annapolis County Crime Prevention Association. Public sector organizations involved with the committee include the Nova Scotia Department of Justice Correctional Services, Department of Community Services, the I.W.K. Youth Forensic Service, Annapolis Valley Regional School Board, Centre 24/7, Annapolis Valley District Health Authority and the Government of Canada's National Homelessness Initiative.

"This funding furthers the Government of Canada's commitment to continue working together with community groups, the private sector and all levels of government to find local solutions to address homelessness," stated Minister Bradshaw.

The Government of Canada launched the NHI in December 1999 to support communities' efforts to help Canadians out of homelessness. Over $1 billion is being spent towards the federal government's commitment to addressing homelessness in Canada. Since the NHI was launched, the Government of Canada has committed approximately $15 million to prevent and alleviate homelessness in Nova Scotia.

Funding for these projects was provided for in the 2004 federal Budget.



Since December 1999, communities across Canada have undertaken over 1,800 projects, funded wholly or in part by the National Homelessness Initiative. These projects will result in:
  • The creation of approximately 8,000 new, permanent beds in shelters, transitional, and supportive houses;
  • The construction, renovation, and enhancement of roughly 1000 sheltering facilities and support facilities, such as food banks, soup kitchens and drop-in centres;
  • The transfer of 50 federal surplus properties worth over $9 million, which will result in the creation of 214 transitional and affordable housing units; and
  • In addition to the Government of Canada investment, partnerships have leveraged over a half billion dollars towards the implementation of homelessness projects in Canada.


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

For more information:

Dr. Jim Gunn
Superintendent of Schools and Chair of Western Regional Child and Youth Action
Committee (CAYAC)
(902) 538-4615

Denis D'Amour
Minister Bradshaw's Office
(506) 851-3419

Christina Schulze-Allen
Manager, Western Regional Child and Youth Action Committee (CAYAC)
(902) 825-5377

Corporate Affairs Unit
Government of Canada
(902) 426-8306