Additional funding under the Reaching Home Agreement between the governments of Canada and Quebec to help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless

MONTRÉAL, Aug. 12, 2022 /CNW/ - Every Canadian deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, but far too many Canadians face uncertain living conditions and homelessness, and the COVID?19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation of those who are most vulnerable. The governments of Canada and Quebec recognize that we share a collective responsibility to respond to this crisis.

Today, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, and Lionel Carmant, Quebec's Minister for Health and Social Services, reaffirmed that additional federal funding of more than $84 million over two years, as of 2022?2023, has been made available to communities in Quebec through the amendment of the 2019?2024 Canada-Quebec Reaching Home Agreement, under the program Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy. This additional funding is on top of the regular funding already set out in the Reaching Home Agreement.

The Government of Canada has almost doubled its investments in Reaching Home, going from more than $2 billion over nine years to nearly $4 billion since its launch.

In Quebec, Reaching Home is primarily implemented through Canada-Quebec agreements that respect the jurisdiction and priorities of both governments in preventing and reducing homelessness. To date, the program has helped 40,000 Quebecers receive services that have prevented them from becoming homeless or have helped them find housing. Reaching Home has also funded education programs, vocational programs and social integration activities.

In accordance with the Agreement Amending the 2019?2024 Canada-Quebec Reaching Home Agreement, integrated health and social services centres will continue to manage the funding available in their jurisdiction while benefitting from the flexibility they need to meet priorities in order to deal with regional issues.

The additional federal funding supports the organizations as they respond to community priorities, such as reducing overcrowding in shelters, offering permanent housing solutions or temporarily providing direct medical services. This allows the organizations to support and expand the services they offer to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

The Reaching Home program supports the objectives of the National Housing Strategy by helping the most vulnerable Canadians and Quebecers maintain safe, stable and affordable housing and by reducing chronic homelessness across Canada.

"Every Canadian deserves a safe, affordable place to call home. This additional funding to Quebec is essential to support people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and to find solutions in order to reduce chronic homelessness. We are continuing to work with our partners to ensure that no one is left behind."

? Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion (Housing) and MP for Hochelaga on behalf of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion

"This additional funding allows support for ongoing plans established under the Plan d'action interministériel en itinérance 2021-2026. These actions aim to support the most vulnerable in our communities and people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. This funding comes to support Quebec's efforts, in particular providing 1600 rent supplements over the next 5 years, in order to bring quick solutions to the needs of homeless people."

? Lionel Carmant, Quebec's Minister for Health and Social Services

• Through Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy, the federal government has committed close to $4 billion over a nine-year period to address homelessness in Canada. The amount for Quebec is more than $380 million.
  
  
• The first 2019?2024 Canada-Quebec Reaching Home Agreement was reached on August 26, 2019. It outlines the terms of collaboration between the two governments for implementing the Reaching Home program while respecting the jurisdiction and priorities of Quebec.
  
  
• The Agreement amending the Canada?Quebec Agreement on Reaching Home 2019?2024 has been signed and is in effect as of August 8, 2022.

• Additional funding under the Reaching Home Agreement between the governments of Canada and Quebec to help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
• About Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy
• Governments of Canada and Quebec take another step in the fight against homelessness

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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada