April 13, 2004

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QUEBEC — Eight organizations in Trois-Rivières will receive over a million dollars to carry out projects designed to reduce homelessness. The Honourable Jacques Saada, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister responsible for Democratic Reform and MP for Brossard–La Prairie, announced the funding today on behalf of the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for Homelessness. The funding is being provided under the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI), one of the components of the Government of Canada’s National Homelessness Initiative (NHI), and reaffirms the federal government’s commitment to strengthen Canada’s social foundations, as stated in the Speech from the Throne.

“The National Homelessness Initiative has yielded excellent results since it was launched in 1999,” stated Minister Saada. “Many people have enjoyed a better quality of life as a result. I am pleased that the Government of Canada is supporting these organizations in Trois Rivières.”

The funding announced today will help eight organizations provide essential services to people in need. The attached backgrounder lists the approved projects.

“To date, in the Trois Rivières area alone, 18 projects have been approved, representing over $3 million,” added Minister Saada.

In July 2003, the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec signed a new agreement of cooperation regarding the SCPI and the Regional Homelessness Fund. This agreement respects the jurisdictions, policies and priorities of both governments regarding homelessness. A joint management committee oversees the coordination of this agreement and is supported in its work by an advisory committee composed of representatives from both levels of government and from community organizations.

The NHI is making a difference by encouraging the development of flexible, community-driven solutions to help alleviate homelessness.

Since the NHI was launched, the Government of Canada has invested over $80 million in more than 450 projects to reduce homelessness in Quebec. The funding for the Initiative comes from the March 2004 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 NHI, please visit our Web site at http://www.homelessness.gc.ca/.

Information:

Point de rue – $315,203 The funding will be used to ensure the continuity and reinforcement of existing, promising and essential activities, such as the creation of a street newspaper. It will also reinforce the care and support of fragile and vulnerable people and allow the development of sustainable solutions.

Centre Le Havre de Trois-Rivières – $281,693 The funding will allow the completion of renovation and construction work to enlarge the Centre to be completed, a concerted social crisis intervention system to be implemented, liaison mechanisms with the main partners to be developed, and a utility vehicle to be purchased.

Réseau d’habitation communautaire de la Mauricie – $223,408 The funding will be used to renovate a building consisting of six housing units located in Trois-Rivières, and to renovate five new supportive-housing units in Saint Stanislas. It will also allow a case worker to be hired in order to improve the social integration of the people living in these units. Other financial partner: Société d’habitation du Québec

Corporation Parapluie en urgence sociale – $95,800 The project will allow a visibility plan to be developed, an international symposium on homelessness and society to be co-ordinated, and awareness and funding activities tied to the cause of homeless people to be organized.

Les artisans bénévoles de la paix en Mauricie – $72,760 The approved funding will be used to consolidate the front-line service by maintaining a case worker position to achieve the goal of life skill training and to respond to social crisis situations.

Économie communautaire de Francheville – $31,544 The goal of this project is to increase, through action research by March 2005, knowledge of the vulnerable populations in the greater Trois-Rivières region who are socially estranged or at risk of being so. Other financial partner: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

Ebyon – $3,300 The funding will be used to draw up a profile of homelessness in the Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Sainte-Marthe-du-Cap and Saint-Louis-de-France areas of Trois-Rivières.

Service Intégration Travail – $175,000 S.I.T. is a non for profit organization dedicated to reinsert individuals with severe and persistent mental health conditions to the work force. The funding will be used to buy the building where they currently rent spaces. This building is located on Georges Street in Trois-Rivières.

Total: $1,198,708