Government of Canada helps women and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Moncton
Moncton, New Brunswick, October 11, 2012—Vulnerable women and children will have greater access to transitional housing, announced Robert Goguen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
“Our government is giving a hand‑up to Canadians with housing needs and is helping to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty,” said Mr. Goguen. “As a result of this investment, the YWCA of Moncton will be able to provide stable housing to women and children in need.”
“There is a gap in our community when it comes to helping these young mothers,” states Jewell Mitchell, Executive Director of the YWCA Moncton. “Our organization’s mandate is to inspire women and girls to lead empowered lives, so when we found out about this great need, we saw this as a call to fulfill our mission in a very concrete way.”
Homelessness Partnering Strategy funding of just over $200,000 is being used by the YWCA for pre-development activities for the construction of a new transitional housing complex. This complex will create 27 new beds for young pregnant women and women and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Moncton.
This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Marian Ngo
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
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Backgrounder
The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) is a unique community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing direct support and funding to 61 designated communities across Canada. The HPS took effect April 1, 2007, with annual funding of $134.8 million for two years. In September 2008, the Government committed to investing more than $1.9 billion in housing and homelessness programs over five years, until March 2014. This includes a renewal of the HPS until March 2014.
As of August 21, 2012, a total of 2 197 approved projects totalling over $721 million have been funded under the HPS to prevent and reduce homelessness in Canada.
The HPS provides structures and supports that help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness achieve self-sufficiency and full participation in society. This model seeks to address homelessness by working in partnership with the provinces and territories, other federal departments, as well as with communities and the private and not-for-profit sectors.
The availability of safe, stable housing and related supports is an important element in addressing homelessness and helping individuals who are homeless achieve greater self‑sufficiency and a better quality of life. The Government’s investments are creating jobs, stimulating local economies and improving the quality of life for many Canadians.
By working with all our partners, we will maximize results to make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable Canadians. The HPS provides the support that our community partners are seeking.
The HPS encourages a housing-first approach, which recognizes that housing stability is an important first step in addressing homelessness, and is necessary for the success of other interventions such as education and training, life skills development or the management of mental health issues.
For more information on the HPS and the seven funding streams, visitwww.hrsdc.gc.ca/homelessness.
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