Province Combating Homelessness in Ontario Communities

Ontario Investing in Municipalities to Help Families Stay in their Homes

November 2, 2016

Ministry of Housing

Ontario is helping individuals and families find safe and affordable housing, by increasing its investment in municipalities to help them meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness.

The additional investment from the province will further support municipalities in delivering housing- and homelessness-related services tailored to meet the needs of their communities through 2020. Services include:

• Financial assistance and education programs to help prevent eviction
• Long-term and transitional housing with related supports
• Emergency shelters for those experiencing a crisis

Last year, the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative helped almost 40,000 families and individuals experiencing homelessness obtain housing. It also helped more than 115,000 families and individuals at-risk of homelessness remain in their homes.

Investing in programs to prevent and reduce homelessness is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

Quick Facts

• Ontario is investing an additional $15 million in the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI), bringing the government’s annual contribution to $338.7 million by 2019-2020, which is an increase of $92 million since the program launched in 2013. This funding builds on the $15 million in each of 2017-18, 2018-19 that was announced in October 2016. The program is also providing municipalities with $293.7 million in 2016-2017, $308.7 million in 2017-2018, and $323.7 million in 2018-2019.
• The CHPI reinforces the bold and transformative update to Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy, and supports the province’s goal of ending chronic homelessness by 2025.
• Every $15 million invested in the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative is estimated to help about 2,600 households experiencing homelessness find housing, or prevent approximately 14,200 households from becoming homeless.
• Since 2003, Ontario has committed more than $5 billion to affordable housing. This includes the recent federal-provincial partnership to extend the Investment in Affordable Housing program.

Additional Resources

• Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy
• Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy

Quotes

“We are helping Ontario’s most vulnerable take the first step out of poverty by arming communities with the tools they need to help individuals and families access safe and affordable housing. Ensuring every Ontarian has a safe place to call home helps build stronger communities and a more prosperous Ontario.”

Chris Ballard
Minister of Housing and the Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy

Media Contacts

Conrad Spezowka
Communications Branch
Conrad.Spezowka@ontario.ca
416-585-7066

Laura Gallant
Minister’s Office
laura.gallant@ontario.ca
416-585-6333

NT3