| Province | News |
| Spotlight | CHRA Expresses Deep Disappointment in Budget 2021 April 19, 2021 Although the Budget provides $2.5 billion in additional funding for existing affordable housing-related programs, these investments will not significantly address the affordable housing crisis in Canada, and will do nothing to address the imbalance in housing needs facing Canada’s urban and rural Indigenous population. https://chra-achru.ca/news/canadian-housing-and-renewal-association-expresses-deep-disappointment-in-budget-2021/ Long-term plan for affordable housing topped up in federal budget April 19, 2021 In the first budget in more than two years, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland refreshed the Liberals’ 10-year, $40-billion housing strategy with an additional $2.5-billion commitment. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/long-term-plan-for-affordable-housing-topped-up-in-federal-budget-1.5393597 Experts, advocates say federal budget is hit-and-miss on housing April 20, 2021 Monday’s federal budget promises $2.4 billion over five years, beginning with nearly $1.8 billion this fiscal year, for affordable housing and follows through on a pledge to tax foreigners who own vacant homes in Canada. https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/news/experts-advocates-say-federal-budget-is-hit-and-miss-on-housing-1.24309456 Federal budget 2021: $18 billion is a step towards closing gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities April 21, 2021 Indigenous communities have been historically underserved and under-resourced, writes Kerry Black, Schulich School of Engineering, in Conversation Canada https://news.ucalgary.ca/news/federal-budget-2021-18-billion-step-towards-closing-gaps-between-indigenous-and-non-indigenous $18B Indigenous spending in Budget 2021 meant for short-term gaps: Miller April 23, 2021 Investments of $6 billion over five years are included in the budget are meant to be investments for “shovel-ready projects” over the next three to five years flagged as critical infrastructure by local chiefs and communities, Miller said. https://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/news/18b-indigenous-spending-in-budget-2021-meant-for-short-term-gaps-miller-1.24310727 |
| ICYMI | $1M yearly ‘housing first’ strategy approved by Regina city council April 14, 2021 The city will put $1M a year into funding 20 new permanent housing placements starting in 2022 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/homeless-strategy-renaming-dewdney-park-council-1.5985930 |
| Upcoming webinars | In Conversation: Child Welfare and Youth Homelessness Date: Friday, May 14, 2021 Time: 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time Join Dr. Melanie Doucet, Ph.D. Social Work and MtS Scholar with Lived Experience, Senior Researcher and Project Manager at Child Welfare League of Canada and Researcher with the Centre for Research on Children and Families at McGill University, Dr. Michael Ungar, Founder & Director of the Resilience Research Centre & Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience, and David French, Managing Director of A Way Home Canada in a rich discussion on how to stop the pipeline of young people from the child welfare system into homelessness through focus on well-being instead of keeping young people in survival mode. Link to register: https://yorku.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_L8jEvC7URrSh1jA0BoWUvg |
| British Columbia | City of Vancouver purchases former Best Western to re-purpose as supportive housing April 16, 2021 The Mount Pleasant property will offer approximately 68 more units of supportive housing for people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/vancouver-news/city-of-vancouver-purchases-former-best-western-to-re-purpose-as-supportive-housing-3640199 Feds make substantial investment in BC housing development April 20, 2021 The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has announced a $101.9 million federal investment in a housing development in Burnaby, British Columbia – $2.7 million of which will be forgivable. https://www.mortgagebrokernews.ca/news/feds-make-substantial-investment-in-bc-housing-development-355135.aspx Man arrested after 15-year-old badly injured in attack at Victoria tent encampment April 22, 2021 In a statement Thursday, police said officers were called to reports that the teen was being assaulted and choked while visiting an encampment at Beacon Hill Park. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/teen-victoria-tent-assault-1.5998131 |
| Alberta | Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson welcomes $1.5 billion in federal budget for rapid housing, but says it’s not enough April 19, 2021 Iveson said Monday the city is happy to see the cash, but he was disappointed the top up is nowhere near the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ ask of $7 billion to end chronic homelessness by building 24,000 units. https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/edmonton-mayor-don-iveson-welcomes-1-5-billion-in-federal-budget-for-rapid-housing-but-says-its-not-enough RMWB’s 10-year plan to end homelessness scored victories, but poverty and housing issues remain April 22, 2021 The municipality’s community services department estimates chronic homelessness in Fort McMurray has dropped to an estimated 30 people as of March 4 from its 2008 high of 549 people, a massive victory for the RMWB’s 10-year plan to end homelessness that began in 2010. https://www.fortmcmurraytoday.com/news/rmwbs-10-year-plan-to-end-homelessness-scored-victories-but-poverty-and-housing-issues-remain |
| Saskatchewan | Saulteaux First Nation among those receiving national housing funding April 16, 2021 In total, $17 million will be given out across several of Saskatchewan’s First Nations, including Saulteaux. https://www.mylloydminsternow.com/46207/saulteaux-first-nation-among-those-receiving-national-housing-funding/ JHSS looking to raise $100K for supportive transitional house in Regina for homeless LGBTQ2 youth April 22, 2021 The John Howard Society of Saskatchewan (JHSS) announced campaign on Thursday morning to raise money for a new home for LGBTQ2S youth living in homelessness. https://globalnews.ca/news/7781659/jhss-raise-funds-supportive-transitional-house-regina-homeless-lgbtq2-youth/ |
| Manitoba | ‘I’m forever getting sick’: Two mothers in Mathias Colomb worry about their new homes April 20, 2021 Home-builder says homeowners don’t understand how to keep houses dry. https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/mould-reserve-housing/ Advocates applaud Manitoba’s plan to support vaccinations for urban Indigenous and homeless people April 21, 2021 The province announced Wednesday it will be opening community-led clinics in four communities—Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Thompson and two in Winnipeg—aimed at supporting access and vaccine uptake among urban Indigenous people and people who are precariously housed or homeless. https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/advocates-applaud-manitoba-s-plan-to-support-vaccinations-for-urban-indigenous-and-homeless-people-1.5397000 |
| Ontario | Canada Supports Rapid Housing Projects for First Nations in Kenora April 16, 2021 85 new homes will be built in the following seven Indigenous communities: Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation, Deer Lake First Nation, Eagle Lake First Nation, Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Mishkeegogamang First Nation, and Webequie First Nation. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canada-supports-rapid-housing-projects-for-first-nations-in-kenora-894877439.html Canada and Ontario Provide Affordable Homes for Veterans in Ottawa April 16, 2021 Funding for this project is being delivered through the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative, which is a joint program by the federal and provincial governments. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canada-and-ontario-provide-affordable-homes-for-veterans-in-ottawa-893577502.html St. Thomas looks to database to help find shelter for homeless April 16, 2021 The system, operated through the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, uses a database of homeless people to help providers co-ordinate responses and avoid duplication of services. https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/st-thomas-looks-to-database-to-help-find-shelter-for-homeless The case for building housing at St. Giles church April 17, 2021 Letting go of 1912 Protestant architecture where it does not serve our people — our people who are disabled, queer, racialized, working class and cash-poor (including those of us who are houseless) — is part of our transformation through lament. https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/2021/04/17/the-case-for-building-housing-at-st-giles-church.html Dozens of works on virtual auction block for UPwithART fundraiser April 17, 2021 The Unity Project for Relief of Homelessness provides emergency shelter, housing and related services to help adults and youth to escape and avoid homelessness. https://o.canada.com/entertainment/local-arts/dozens-of-works-on-virtual-auction-block-for-upwithart-fundraiser Sandy Hill rowhouse residents face ‘renovictions,’ advocates say April 18, 2021 According to affordable housing and homelessness advocates working informally on their behalf, the tenants are facing “renovictions” — a term for using renovations as a chance to bring new tenants in and charge significantly higher rents. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/renovictions-allegations-sandy-hill-1.5988711 Winding down hotel homeless program could be ‘devastating’ April 19, 2021 Program brought in as an emergency measure will continue until the end of June https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/winding-down-hotel-homeless-program-could-be-devastating-1.5990350 Rapid Housing Initiative aims to build 85 homes in seven northwestern Ontario Indigenous communities April 19, 2021 Federal government providing $21M to project https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/rapid-housing-northwestern-ontario-1.5992392 New budget addresses homelessness, food security, mental health: Longfield April 20, 2021 Longfield said the focus lies on getting through the pandemic before we can begin to recover and rebuild https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/new-budget-addresses-homelessness-food-security-mental-health-longfield-3647310 City Briefs: Kingston to consider new homeless protocol April 20, 2021 City council is to consider the funding increase — $77,500 — to allow the agency to increase its outreach program from the current five days a week to seven. https://www.thewhig.com/news/local-news/city-briefs-kingston-to-consider-new-homeless-protocol Suswin housing project underway April 21, 2021 In North Bay, Indigenous people account for about 14 per cent of the population yet make up 42 per cent of the city’s homeless https://www.baytoday.ca/more-local/suswin-housing-project-underway-3652755 County uses collaboration and innovation to help homeless during pandemic April 22, 2021 In mid March, 2020, the County responded quickly to authorize funding to support homeless shelter service providers in relocating and housing their respective occupants within motels located throughout the region. https://www.wellandtribune.ca/ts/news/canada/2021/04/22/county-uses-collaboration-and-innovation-to-help-homeless-during-pandemic.html |
| Québec | Indigenous housing crisis inspires ‘hopeful’ art in MMFA exhibition April 22, 2021 There’s a surprising sense of lightness, and life, to Anishinaabe-Québécoise visual artist Caroline Monnet’s solo show Ninga Mìnèh. https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/local-arts/indigenous-housing-crisis-inspires-beautiful-art-at-mmfa-exhibition |
| P.E.I. | Georgetown social housing build to start this fall April 21, 2021 Although it’s still in the design stage, the wheels are in motion for a 10-unit affordable housing project to break ground in Georgetown early this fall. https://www.peicanada.com/eastern_graphic/georgetown-social-housing-build-to-start-this-fall/article_f8c28d70-a1d0-11eb-91c2-17b869bd3af7.html Liberal MLA calls for more money for home renovations programs April 22, 2021 “The rising cost of materials has led to construction budgets increasing exponentially, and in some cases, we have seen the results of delayed or even cancelled projects,” Henderson said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-home-renovation-programs-building-materials-cost-1.5998667 |
| New Brunswick | Living wage for Fredericton over $20 an hour, says anti-poverty group April 20, 2021 Shelter and child care are listed as the most expensive family budget items in Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John. But this is especially true in Fredericton, where housing costs have driven the city to the top spot. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/living-wage-fredericton-moncton-1.5994769 Fredericton councillor’s apartment project wins OK from planning committee April 22, 2021 The proposed project has a smaller footprint than a building that was zoned for the vacant lot in 2018 and is two storeys smaller. Two of the units will be considered affordable housing. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fredericton-development-devonk-1.5997441 New Brunswick tenants see biggest rent hikes in Canada April 22, 2021 Pandemic migrants helped trigger hot real estate market, but also forced up cost of housing rentals https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/rent-housing-real-estate-new-brunswick-1.5997150 |
| Nova Scotia | Halifax organization steps in to help homeless families with nowhere to go April 22, 2021 Adsum’s Diverting Families program helps place families in a home instead of a shelter https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/family-homelessness-emergency-housing-adsum-1.5996367 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Social, economic challenges among biggest health concerns in N.L. according to report April 20, 2021 Health accord group says system needs change, including spending https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/health-accord-nl-2021-interim-report-1.5994800 |
| North | Vulnerable Inuk man left homeless as public guardian argues it is not responsible for housing April 16, 2021 Public Guardian says it’s not responsible for housing those under its care https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavut-guardianship-homeless-court-1.5989579 Yellowknife conducts new point-in-time homelessness count April 21, 2021 City of Yellowknife staff and volunteers on Sunday completed a fresh count of people experiencing homelessness in the city. The results are expected to help illuminate Covid-19’s impact. https://cabinradio.ca/60441/news/yellowknife/yellowknife-conducts-new-point-in-time-homelessness-count/ |
| Misc. | PODCAST: On The Way Home featuring Nicholas Ridiculous and Michelle German April 22, 2021 Hear from Nicholas Ridiculous share his lived experience and Michelle German, Vice President of Policy and Strategy at WoodGreen Community Services, talk about their critical new report, New Housing Models for Youth Transitioning Out of Care, a Solutions Lab Roadmap. As Nicholas notes, there are lots of reports but we must act to end youth homelessness! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nLicvpjAF0 |
In The News: April 16-22, 2021
The Indigenous Homelessness Circle 
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