April 26, 2004

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAGUENAY (CHICOUTIMI AREA), QUEBEC —Eight organizations in Saguenay will receive funding from the Government of Canada to carry out 9 projects to alleviate homelessness. The Honourable André Harvey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources with special emphasis on Development of Value-Added Industries and Member of Parliament for Chicoutimi–Le Fjord, made the announcement today, on behalf of the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for Homelessness. These organizations will receive a contribution of $917,104. The funding is being provided through the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI), one of the components of the National Homelessness Initiative (NHI), and demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to making Canada a country with strong social foundations, as stated in the Speech from the Throne.

“I am happy that the Government of Canada is giving concrete support to the region’s organizations,” said Mr. Harvey. “There is no doubt that this funding will enable them to respond even more effectively to the needs of our most vulnerable fellow citizens.”

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

“To date in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region alone, 32 projects have been approved, representing over $2,5 million,” added Mr. Harvey.

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 respect to 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 inception of the NHI, the Government of Canada has invested approximately $80 million in more than 450 projects to reduce homelessness in Quebec. Funding for the Initiative is provided for in 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 National Homelessness Initiative, please visit our Web site at http://www.homelessness.gc.ca/.

Maison d’Accueil pour les sans-abri de Chicoutimi Inc.: Project 1 – $260,000
The funding will be used to increase the service capacity to assist clients who are homeless, and will make it possible to increase the social re-integration rate.

Canadian Mental Health Association (Saguenay branch): 2 projects
Project 1 – $170,327
The goal of this project is to help individuals manage their personal finances so that they can meet their basic needs: food, clothing and shelter. It will also offer personal support to encourage individuals to stay in their homes, escort individuals to the various appropriate public services and telephone follow-up services as required, and it will provide rapid intervention and help services.
Project 2 – $68,417
This project will strengthen support services associated with three emergency beds for people affected by mental illness.

Service alimentaire La Recette: Project 1 – $60,000
These funds will enable this popular community grocery service to move to more suitable premises.

Café Jeunesse de Chicoutimi: Project 1 – $56,323
This contribution will be used to hire a streetworker to help young adults stay off the streets. The clients are between 18 and 30 years of age and live in rooming houses in the downtown Chicoutimi area.

Service de travail de rue de Chicoutimi: Project 1 – $53,881
This project seeks to prevent homelessness among people between 12 and 35 years of age, as well as among those who ask for help, referrals or support during a visit to the emergency department of the Complexe hospitalier de la Sagamie. The funds will be used to maintain and operate the project’s trailer and cover costs for an additional streetworker.

Maison Des Jeunes De La Baie Inc.: Project 1 – $45,536
The Maison des Jeunes de La Baie Inc. provides a meeting place that is used as a living environment for adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17. Its goal is to make adolescents active and responsible and improve their judgment by giving them a sense of self-worth through action and prevention. The funding will be used to strengthen service delivery through front-line prevention resources in order to promote the social integration of young people between the ages of 12 and 25, and to give the community a sense of responsibility with regard to the living conditions of young people through awareness-raising activities.

La Soupe Populaire de Chicoutimi Inc.: Project 1 – $2,500
The Soupe Populaire de Chicoutimi Inc. provides daily food aid services to disadvantaged and low-income individuals. The funding will be used to perform work on the building to stop the water leakage problem.

Séjour Marie Fitzbach: Project 1 – $200,120
The Séjour Marie Fitzbach provides housing for women who are in difficult situations, who are homeless or who are in a crisis situation. The funding will be used to strengthen housing services and will also make it possible to improve the facilities through the addition of a functional reception room.

Total: $917,104