November 26, 2004

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR — On behalf of the Honourable Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing, the Honourable John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources and M.P. for Avalon announced $17,931 in funding today to the Provincial Association Against Family Violence for expansion of the Homeless and Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) throughout the province.

HIFIS is a data management system that is used by hundreds of homeless shelters across the country. It allows shelters to share information and provide more comprehensive service to people who need to access emergency shelter. Today’s funding announcement will help the Provincial Association Against Family Violence to provide the necessary computer equipment for shelters and service providers in seven communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Homeless shelters and other community agencies have said to us that they need every dollar they already have for core services,” said Minister Efford. “Shelters need support to properly upgrade their systems, and I believe the Government of Canada has a role to play in meeting those challenges.”

Kathleen Jason, Chair of the Provincial Association Against Family Violence said, “We will be able to better serve people in need as a result of the new HIFIS-capable sites. I know it will be welcomed by everyone concerned, and I want to thank the National Homelessness Initiative, which has made and continues to make a real impact in our communities.”

The Provincial Association Against Family Violence was established in June of 1987 as an umbrella organization for shelters and safe houses in Newfoundland and Labrador. The organization makes a significant contribution to anti-violence activities in the province, including providing consultation on the establishment of transition houses, providing training for staff and management of shelters and raising public awareness.

The Association acts as a liaison between the shelters and government and provides a representative view of shelter interests. It has been coordinating the HIFIS Initiative in the Atlantic Region since August of 2003.

Organizations acquiring new computer hardware equipment and training are:

• The Wiseman Centre- St. John’s • Cara House- Gander • Grace Sparke’s House- Marystown • Transition House- Corner Brook • Libra House- Happy Valley-Goose Bay • Nain Safe House- Nain • The Provincial Association Against Family Violence- St. John’s

The National Homelessness Initiative has in the past provided such computer hardware to shelters and service providers in the St. John’s community through existing contribution agreements. Carew Lodge, Emmanuel House, Naomi Centre, Choices for Youth, the Native Friendship Centre, Iris Kirby House and the Family Crisis Centre in Labrador City have already been equipped with HIFIS computer hardware.

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, visit our Web site at: www.homelessness.gc.ca

- Shelter Enhancement Program and Proposal Development Funding, visit our Web site at: www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca.

For more information, contact:
Wayne Piercey
HRSDC/SDC
(709) 772-5346

Peter Graham
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Labour and Housing
(819) 953-5646

Tom Ormsby
Director of Communications
Office of the Hon. John Efford
Minister of Natural Resources
(613) 996-2007

Kim Dreaddy
Coordinator
Provincial Association Against Family Violence
(709) 739-6759