Victoria, BC– The Government of Canada has entered into two new agreements with the Capital Regional District (CRD) to administer Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. Officially launched April 1, 2019, the redesigned federal homelessness program will support the most vulnerable people in the capital region by improving access to safe, stable and affordable housing.
Within this community based initiative, the CRD will administer two programs: a five-year agreement under the Designated Communities Program for $4.3 million and a second under the Indigenous Communities Program for $337,256.
Funding for the five-year designated program stream will be allocated to initiatives that address outcomes identified in community plans, and recommended by the Reaching Home Community Advisory Board (CAB). Currently the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness is the CAB for Designated and Indigenous funding streams. Allocations under the Designated Communities Program will take place through a Call for Proposals process in the fall of 2019.
Funding for the one-year Indigenous Homelessness Program will continue to support the delivery of holistic and culturally-appropriate responses to the unique needs of Indigenous Peoples living in vulnerable conditions, including Indigenous women, youth and mothers with children. The Government of Canada will be consulting with Indigenous stakeholders to determine the governance and administration to support the future delivery of this program.
About the Program: The redesigned Reaching Home Strategy furthers the goals of the Government of Canada’s National Housing Strategy to support the needs of the most vulnerable Canadians; to improve access to safe, stable and affordable housing; and to reduce chronic homelessness nationally by 50 percent by 2027-2028.
The program will allow greater flexibility in how communities use their funding. The introduction of Coordinated Access will support a more systems-based approach to addressing homelessness, including the adoption of relevant information technology infrastructure and information management systems. The agreement also includes conducting another Point in Time homelessness count in 2020.
To learn more, please visit Reaching Home
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492