September 12, 2004

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA— Mr. Michael Savage, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, on behalf of the Honourable Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing, today announced $53,101 in funding to the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth Project in Metro Halifax. Funding is being provided through the Government of Canada’s National Homelessness Initiative (NHI). “We recognize the urgency for services and assistance for youth in need, particularly homeless youth in the Metro area,” said Mr. Savage. “Housing is the foundation upon which healthy communities are built. This is the basis of esteem for many of us. Projects of this type support young vulnerable people in Nova Scotia.”

The Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth Project was established in 1993 to provide support and services to youth, their families and co-workers throughout Nova Scotia. The project offers referral services, counselling, programs and a drop-in service daily to homeless youth or those who may become homeless. One of their major programs is the Safe Home Program, which places youth who are homeless or at-risk in safe, supportive homes while they finish their education.

The contribution announced today will improve the safety and utility of the Project’s building and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

“This funding will help us provide a safer, better environment for the young people we serve,” said Lawrence Roche of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth Project.

By working in partnership with community organizations, the private and voluntary sectors and other levels of government, the NHI is bringing all stakeholders together to develop local solutions that work to address particular needs and challenges faced by homeless people. The Government of Canada launched the NHI in December 1999 to support communities’ efforts to help Canadians out of homelessness. Since the launch, the Initiative has contributed over $14 million to alleviate homelessness in Nova Scotia. Funding is provided for in the last federal Budget.

Since December 1999, communities across Canada have undertaken over 2,600 projects, funded wholly or in part by the National Homelessness Initiative. These projects will result in: The creation of about 10,000 new, permanent beds in shelters, transitional, and supportive houses; The construction or renovation of approximately 1100 sheltering and supportive facilities (i.e. emergency and transitional shelters, 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 almost one billion dollars towards the implementation of homelessness projects in Canada.

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

For more information, contact:
Alicia Nolan
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
902-426-1534

Darryl Stewart
Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth Project
902-429-5429