May 7, 2004

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

news release

May 7, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Government of Canada invests over $1.5 million to help address homelessness in London

LONDON, ONTARIO – Approval for the city of London’s community plan on homelessness was announced today by the Honourable Members of Parliament Sue Barnes, Joe Fontana, Pat O’Brien and Gar Knutson, Minister of State and New and Emerging Markets on behalf of the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for Homelessness. Under the Government of Canada’s National Homelessness Initiative (NHI), community groups will have access to $1,574, 230 to assist in their efforts to address homelessness.

“The Community Plan has been developed by the community, for the community, and builds on the good work, lessons learned, strong relationships and significant success of the first three years of the National Homelessness Initiative. The Government of Canada congratulates the City of London on its dedication in addressing homelessness, and is proud to be a partner in that action,” declared the Members of Parliament in a joint statement.

Through a series of consultative public forums, London has established a list of priorities to be addressed through this community plan. These include transitional and supportive housing, co-ordination of support services, and community awareness.

The Community Plan is the community’s vision of how best to help homeless individuals and families. The Plan is a product of a consultative process involving all stakeholders interested in addressing homelessness in a particular community. The community identifies assets, gaps and priorities that meet local requirements to both prevent and reduce homelessness.

“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 National Homelessness Initiative 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 launch, the Initiative has supported 628 projects with a total of $124.8 million to alleviate homelessness in Ontario. Funding is provided for in the March 2004 federal 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 National Homelessness Initiative, visit our Web site at www.homelessness.gc.ca