May 19, 2004

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO— Approval of the Thunder Bay’s Community Plan on Homelessness was jointly announced today by the Honourable Joe Comuzzi and Stan Dromisky, Members of Parliament for the Thunder Bay area, 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 in Thunder Bay will have access to $421,602 to assist in their efforts to address homelessness.

“The Community Plan plays a crucial role, not only on getting the community mobilized, but on fostering strong partnerships,” said the MPs in a joint statement. “We would like to congratulate the community groups, the City of Thunder Bay, the private sector and all levels of government for playing their part. Homelessness in our community affects everyone.”

Through a series of consultative public forums, Thunder Bay has established a list of priorities to be addressed through this Community Plan. These include providing outreach and case management support, coordinating efforts of individuals and organizations concerned with social policy advocacy and community education and helping homeless people access education and job opportunities.

The Community Plan is the community’s vision of how best to help homeless people. The Plan is the 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. Once the Plan is finalized, the community invites local organizations to submit funding applications through a Request for Proposal process. Individual projects are then selected to receive funding based on their ability to meet the priorities outlined in the Community Plan.

“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 toward 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.

For more information, contact:

Deborah Wallace
Government of Canada
(416) 954-7302