Question Period Note: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REACHING HOME PROGRAM IN QUEBEC

How is the Reaching Home program being implemented in Quebec?

• On August 26, my department and the Government of Quebec jointly announced the signature of two Agreements for the joint implementation of Reaching Home. These Agreements are consistent with the jurisdictions and priorities of the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec with respect to preventing and reducing homelessness.

• These Agreements are based on the terms and principles of collaboration established in previous agreements on homelessness, while strengthening concerted effort and collaboration at the community level as fundamental principles.

• The Agreements are intended to support communities in developing and implementing outcomes-based plans. Decision-making will take place at the local level, and communities will be called on to identify local priorities as part of their community planning exercise. A variety of actions to prevent and reduce homelessness will continue to receive funding. Communities will benefit from increased flexibility in using the funding based on local priorities.

Launched on April 1, 2019, Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy replaced the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS).

In Quebec, federal homelessness programming is delivered through Canada-Quebec Agreements that respect the jurisdictions and priorities of both governments.

Reaching Home (RH) is implemented in Quebec through two Canada-Quebec Agreements:

• The Canada-Quebec Agreement regarding Reaching Home 2019 to 2024 (RH Agreement) ($172 M);
• The Agreement to implement the Community Capacity and Innovation stream of the Reaching Home program in Quebec 2019-2021 (CCI Agreement) ($2.8M)

The Designated Communities (DC), Rural and Remote Homelessness (RRH) and Community Capacity and Innovation (CCI) streams are covered by the RH Agreement. The CCI component is addressed under a specific agreement for the years 2019 to 2021.

The Indigenous Homelessness funding stream is not covered by these Agreements and is administered by the Quebec regional office of Service Canada.

Expecting that discussions surrounding the RH Agreement would continue after March 31, 2019, both governments agreed to put in place two-year transitional measures, from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2021, to ensure continuity of services.

Across Canada, the Government of Canada has committed $2.2 billion over 10 years to tackle homelessness. The investments announced under these Agreements will support the prevention and reduction of homelessness, will support the goals of the National Housing Strategy, including the reduction of chronic homelessness by 50% by 2027-2028.

Key Components of the RH Agreement

Community-based Approach

Community-level coordination and collaboration are fundamental principles. Communities will be called on to identify local priorities as part of a community planning exercise involving homelessness stakeholders from the community. Beginning in April 2021, the centres intégrés (universitaires) de santé et services sociaux (CISSS/CIUSSS) will administer the funding received based on the priorities the community identified.

Coordinated Access

Coordinated access aims to support designated communities in establishing a coordinated, systemic approach designed to respond to the needs of individuals and families who are homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless in an equitable manner, by guiding them toward support services and measures offered by the community.

Coordinated access will be implemented on a progressive basis and communities will have the flexibility needed to adapt the concept to local or regional realities.

The RH Agreement allows to take another step in tackling homelessness through the progressive implementation of a coordinated access system, while respecting existing initiatives.

Analysis and consultation work will be carried out in collaboration with communities to define what form coordinated access will take in Quebec.

Outcomes-based Community Approach

Reaching Home is based on an outcomes-based community approach where communities define their priorities through an inclusive and representative community planning process designed to achieve results at the local level.

This approach will allow partners in the same designated community to adopt a shared vision of the impact of their existing joint efforts and initiatives in preventing and reducing homelessness, including chronic homelessness.

Designated communities will be asked to identify outcomes, targets and indicators used to measure progress in preventing and reducing homelessness among vulnerable populations, including chronic homelessness.

Governance and New Delivery Model

A Joint Management Committee (JMC) composed of representatives from both governments will serve as an official forum for strategic decision-making and discussions.

The CISSS/CIUSSS will be responsible for coordinating activities in their respective region by developing community plans, launching calls for proposals and selecting projects.

The Agreement provides for a transition to a new delivery model:
• From 2019 to 2021: Service Canada remains responsible for administering funding of the DC and RRH streams in accordance with the terms and conditions of previous Canada-Quebec Agreements;
• From 2021 to 2024: the CISSS/CIUSSS will take responsibility for coordinating and administering DC and RRH funding streams in their territory.

Both governments will collaborate on the transition between delivery models and offer support to the CISSS/CIUSSS and other partners involved.

The Government of Quebec will manage the CCI stream.

Key Components of the CCI Agreement

The CCI Agreement provides for analysis and consultation activities leading to the development of a coordinated access model that is consistent with Quebec’s homelessness priorities and directions.

Coordinated Point-in-Time Counts

The CCI Agreement also provides for a Point-in-Time (PIT) Count of people experiencing homelessness between March and April 2021. This activity will support the Government of Quebec in developing a portrait of homelessness.

Elsewhere in Canada, a Point-in-Time Count of people experiencing homelessness will take place in March and April 2020.

• Reaching Home (RH) is being implemented in Quebec under two Canada-Quebec Agreements which align with the policies and priorities of both governments on preventing and reducing homelessness:

o The Canada-Quebec Agreement regarding Reaching Home 2019 to 2024 ($172M)

o The Agreement to implement the Community Capacity and Innovation stream of the Reaching Home program in Quebec 2019-2021 (CCI Agreement) ($2.8M)

• The governments of Canada and Quebec are working together to support implementation of the RH and CCI Agreements. A Joint Management Committee (JMC), composed of representatives from both governments, provides an official forum for strategic decision-making and discussions on all topics related to the two Agreements.