November 10, 2004

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONTREAL, QUEBEC — St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Westmount will receive a $9,000 contribution enabling it to accommodate more people at its drop in centre, The Open Door. The funding will also be used to purchase winter boots to be distributed over the next two years. The Honourable Lucienne Robillard, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Member of Parliament for Westmount-Ville-Marie, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing. The funding is provided under the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI), one of the components of the National Homelessness Initiative (NHI).

“I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada is providing financial support to this community project. St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Westmount has an excellent reputation in the community. With this funding, it can continue to deliver quality service to the people most in need,” stated Minister Robillard.

Established by St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Westmount, The Open Door drop in centre provides a meeting place where people in need can socialize and use the available support services. The Open Door serves nearly 6,000 people every year. Its services include distributing clothing, serving hot meals, and providing access to sanitation facilities and showers. St. Stephen’s also refers homeless people to shelters.

“Thank you for this opportunity to show that Westmount and the Government of Canada have a heart for those who are less fortunate”, said Bob Grier, Director of The Open Door.

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.

Since the inception of the NHI, the Government of Canada has invested over $74 million in more than 395 projects to reduce homelessness in Quebec. The funding for the Initiative comes from the March 2004 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 National Homelessness Initiative, please visit our Web site at www.homelessness.gc.ca.
Information:

Nathalie Dallaire
Office of Minister Robillard
(514) 283-2013

Peter Graham
Office of Minister Fontana
(819) 953-5646

Suzette Perreault
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
(514) 522-4444, extension 2303

Bob Grier
Director, The Open Door
(514) 939-1970