May 19, 2004

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MOOSONEE, ONTARIO — The Government of Canada and the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres (O.F.I.F.C.) today announced an agreement that will provide $2,834,222 in Government of Canada funding to address urban Aboriginal homelessness in eight small urban centres in Ontario. The agreement was announced today by Réginald Bélair, Member of Parliament for Timmins-James Bay, on behalf of the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for Homelessness, and Sylvia Maracle, Executive Director of the O.F.I.F.C. Of the allocated funding, Moosonee will receive $284,000. The community will work with the O.F.I.F.C. to develop plans with specific priorities and projects.

“The Government of Canada is devoted to working with community partners to ease and prevent homelessness for Aboriginal people,” said Mr. Bélair. “No one group can address homelessness on their own. This agreement with the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres is important so that there is a direct focus on the needs of homeless Aboriginal people, as well as those who are at risk of becoming homeless.”

Today’s announcement builds on previous commitments of over $3 million to the O.F.I.F.C., announced in April 2001 and January 2002. Funding is made available through the Urban Aboriginal Homelessness component of the National Homelessness Initiative.

"In many urban communities, Aboriginal people are the anonymous face of poverty and homelessness in Ontario," says Sylvia Maracle, Executive Director of the Ontario Federation of Friendship Centres. "We remain committed to improving the quality of life for urban Aboriginal people. The support from the Government of Canada will allow us to continue this important work in a number of communities."

The O.F.I.F.C. has developed a Community Plan that broadly identifies Aboriginal homelessness priorities across all eight urban centres. These communities include Brantford, Cochrane, Fort Frances, Midland, Moosonee, Niagara, Sault Ste. Marie, and Sudbury. The Plan is based on a series of community forums held in each area with Aboriginal and some non-Aboriginal agencies, and individuals (including Aboriginal homeless individuals) participating in the forums.

“This funding furthers the Government of Canada’s commitment to continue working with Aboriginal associations, other community groups, the private sector and all levels of government to find local solutions to address homelessness,” said 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 over $124 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:

Deb Wallace
Government of Canada
(416) 954-7302

Sylvia Maracle
O.F.I.F.C.
(416) 956-7575

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