May 18, 2004

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONTREAL, QUEBEC— The Honourable Eleni Bakopanos, MP for Ahuntsic and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development with special emphasis on Social Economy, on behalf of the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for Homelessness, today announced contributions of over $275,000 to two organizations in Montreal to carry out community projects. The funding is provided through the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI), one of the components of the National Homelessness Initiative (NHI).

“I am pleased to announce funding for these organizations which are helping to improve the living conditions of people at greatest risk, thereby contributing to the common goal of building a society that better supports these individuals,” said MP Bakopanos.

Rue Action Prévention Jeunesse will receive funding of $160,000. This will enable the organization to hire staff to consolidate the services provided by l’Accès-Soir, a mobile intervention unit. The Centre Dollard-Cormier will receive a contribution of $115,468. This funding will be used to carry out a project to optimize the collective strength of the issue tables and give homeless people better access to existing services and programs.

In July 2003, the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec signed an agreement of cooperation regarding the SCPI and the Regional Homelessness Fund. This agreement respects the jurisdictions, policies and priorities of both governments with regard to homelessness. A joint management committee oversees the coordination of this agreement and is supported in its work by an advisory committee composed of representatives from both levels of government and from community organizations.

“This funding furthers the Government of Canada’s commitment to continue working 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. From 1999 to 2006, $1.15 billion is being spent towards the federal government’s commitment to addressing homelessness in Canada. Since the inception of the NHI, the Government of Canada has invested over $80 million in more than 450 projects to reduce homelessness in Quebec. Funding for this initiative is provided for in the March 2004 Budget.

Since December 1999, communities across Canada have undertaken over 1,800 projects, funded wholly or in part by the NHI. These projects will result in: The addition of approximately 8,000 permanent beds in shelters, and transitional and supportive housing. The construction, renovation and improvement of over 1,000 facilities such as shelters, food banks, soup kitchens and drop-in centres. The transfer of 50 properties, worth $9.2 million and approved under the NHI’s Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative, to establish 214 transitional affordable housing units. In addition to Government of Canada investments, the partnerships have leveraged substantial resources, valued at more than a half billion dollars, for the implementation of homelessness projects in Canada.

For more information on the Government of Canada’s NHI, please visit our Web site at: http://www.homelessness.gc.ca/.