Provincial News Release: Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative funding announcement.
Ontario Partnering with Waterloo Region to End Homelessness
Province Helping Families Stay in their Homes
NEWS
Ontario is partnering with Waterloo Region to end homelessness, by helping families and individuals stay in their homes or get the housing they need.
Waterloo Region will receive an additional $915,029 in funding over two years through the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI). In 2017/18 the Region will receive $9,767,399 in CHPI funding – an increase of $457,399 or 5 per cent over 2016/17. In 2018/19, CHPI funding to the Region will increase again by 5 per cent for a total of $10,225,029.
The province is providing $632 million to municipalities over two years to help families and individuals at risk of homelessness stay in their homes or get the housing they need, through a wider range of services and homelessness prevention programs that meet local needs.
These include:
- Emergency financial assistance to prevent eviction
- Long-term and transitional housing
- Integrated supportive housing to help people with specific needs access suitable housing.
Last year, this initiative helped almost 40,000 families and individuals experiencing homelessness obtain housing, and helped over 115,000 families and individuals at-risk of homelessness remain in their homes.
Preventing homelessness is part of the government's economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit in Ontario's history and is investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.
QUOTES
“Our government is committed to ending homelessness in Ontario and in Waterloo Region. The Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative gives communities like ours the flexibility to address local priorities to better meet the needs of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.”
─ Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener Centre
“Together, with the province, this initiative is a positive step forward providing more affordable housing in the Region of Waterloo and ending chronic homelessness.”
─ Kathryn McGarry, MPP for Cambridge
“Regional Council appreciates this funding for the Consolidated Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) in our community. These dollars will go a long way as we work together to achieve our shared goals of decreasing the number of people experiencing homelessness, while assisting more individuals and families in achieving housing stability.”
─ Ken Seiling, Waterloo Region Chair
QUICK FACTS
- The Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) builds on Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy and is transforming the housing system by helping those experiencing homelessness obtain housing, and those at-risk of homelessness stay in their homes.
- Every $15 million invested in CHPI is estimated to support about 2,600 individuals and families experiencing homelessness to obtain housing, or allow 14,200 households remain stably housed.
- Since 2003, Ontario has committed more than $4 billion to affordable housing. This includes the recent federal-provincial partnership to extend the Investment in Affordable Housing program.
- Ontario is supporting the creation of more than 20,000 affordable rental housing units, making more than 275,000 repairs and improvements to social and affordable housing units, and providing rental and down payment assistance to over 90,000 families and individuals.
LEARN MORE
Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy
Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy
Jill Kolb | Office of MPP Daiene Vernile | 519-579-5460