Ontario Combating Homelessness in York Region
Province Helping Families Stay in their Homes
news.ontario.ca
Dec. 13, 2016
Ontario is helping prevent and reduce homelessness in York Region, by increasing its investment to help families and individuals stay in their homes and get the housing they need.
Chris Ballard, Minister of Housing, was at the 360kids Youth Hub in Richmond Hill today, to announce increased funding for York Region through the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative.
Last year, this initiative helped 519 families and individuals in York Region move from homelessness, emergency shelters and transitional housing to long term housing, and 1,410 families and individuals at risk of homelessness to remain in their homes.
York Region can use the additional funding to deliver the housing- and homelessness-related services that best-suit the community, including:
- Financial assistance and education programs to help prevent eviction
- Long-term and transitional housing with related supports
- Emergency shelters for those experiencing a crisis.
Investing in programs to reduce and prevent homelessness is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.
Quick Facts
- Beginning in 2016-17 through to 2019-20, Ontario has allocated $52.5 million in total funding under the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative to York Region to support local efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness.
- For 2019-20, Ontario is investing an additional $15 million dollars in the initiative across the province, bringing the government’s annual contribution to $338.7 million through 2020. This funding builds on the $15 million in each of 2017-18, 2018-19 that was announced in October 2016.
- Across the province last year, this initiative helped almost 40,000 families and individuals experiencing homelessness obtain housing, and has helped over 115,000 families and individuals at-risk of homelessness remain in their homes.
- The Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative 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 CHPI is estimated to help about 2,600 households experiencing homelessness find housing, or prevent approximately 14,200 households from becoming homeless.
- Since 2013, Ontario has committed more than $2.4 billion to affordable housing. This includes the recent federal-provincial partnership to extend the Investment in Affordable Housing program.
Additional Resources
Quotes
“This increased investment in homelessness prevention will help people in York Region take the first step out of poverty by arming the community with the tools it needs to help individuals and families access safe and affordable housing. Working together, Ontario will continue to be a place where the work of building stronger communities starts at home.”
Chris Ballard, Minister of Housing
“The Government of Ontario’s Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative is an innovative program that helps meet the needs of our growing community by addressing the important issue of housing. I’m pleased with the steps we’re taking to prevent and reduce homelessness by ensuring families and individuals have access to safe and affordable housing in York Region.”
Reza Moridi, MPP, Richmond Hill
“I am proud our government is increasing support to our community for this important program that focuses on getting people who are in need housed as quickly as possible. The Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative delivers results for individuals and families dealing with homelessness to gain and retain secure accommodation and gives York Region the flexibility to address local priorities.”
Michael Chan, MPP, Markham-Unionville
“Investing in programs for housing support will not only benefit individuals in York Region but also in my riding of Oak Ridges-Markham. This is another step forward toward achieving our goal of preventing and reducing homelessness.”
Dr. Helena Jaczek, MPP, Oak Ridges-Markham
“The Regional Municipality of York remains committed to addressing homelessness in our communities and ensuring appropriate housing options for all ages and incomes. The increased funding provided by the Government of Ontario under the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative will allow us to bring more vital supports and services directly to the individuals and families who need them.”
Wayne Emmerson, Chairman and CEO, The Regional Municipality of York
