Thunder Bay — The federal government is allocating an additional $1 million to the Lakehead Social Planning Council in Thunder Bay and $500,000 to the County of Wellington in Guelph through the Designated Communities stream of Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. This brings the total allocation from 2019-20 through 2027-28 to $11.6 million for Thunder Bay, and $17.1 million for Guelph.
This much needed funding will be invested in services and supports that work with some of the most vulnerable in these communities to find suitable housing and address the systemic challenges that contribute to chronic homelessness.
Through Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, the federal government is committed to preventing and reducing homelessness across the country in urban, Indigenous, rural, and remote communities.
Everyone deserves a safe and stable place to call home, but far too many Canadians face the daily unacceptable reality of homelessness. The Government of Canada and its partners recognize the collective responsibility to develop and deliver community plans with clear outcomes that address local priorities designed to meet the needs of specific populations.
“This investment makes sure that dollars that were going to lapse at the end of this fiscal could be repurposed to address high levels of homelessness in these two communities. These communities are responding with a variety of transitional supports and wrap around services that are helping people exit homelessness and find permanent housing, this is the goal.” – Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
“Everyone deserves a place to call home. This is why we are determined to build a Canada where homelessness is no longer an issue. These investments in Thunder Bay and Guelph will go a long way in ensuring that people in vulnerable conditions have the support they need .” – Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services