Question Period Note: Federal Homelessness Programming

What is the Government of Canada doing to address homelessness?

• This government is working to prevent and reduce homelessness in our communities by investing $5 billion in Reaching Home, providing services such as landlord mediation and short-term rental assistance.

• We are also investing in rent supplements and wrap-around services to Veterans in need.

• This government is setting homelessness reduction targets in collaboration with provinces and territories to focus investments in housing services that give people access to treatment and to end encampments community by community.

• Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy
  Launched in 2019 as part of the National Housing Strategy, this program is now a $5 billion investment over nine years, through 2027-28 (including an investment of $1 billion through Budget 2024). Reaching Home provides funding to specific communities through the Designated Communities, Indigenous Homelessness, Rural and Remote Homelessness and Territorial Homelessness streams.

  As of May 2025, Reaching Home has supported over 9,500 projects since April 2019. As a result:

  • Over 170,000 people received prevention services such as short-term rental assistance or landlord mediation;
  • Over 94,000 people have been assisted in attaining more stable housing;
  • Nearly 40,000 people began receiving income assistance; and
  • Nearly 16,000 people started new paid employment.

• The Indigenous Homelessness funding stream allocates funding directly to off reserve organizations that provide culturally appropriate services to Indigenous people experiencing homelessness. The Distinctions-based Approaches stream provides dedicated funding to address specific needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis individuals.

• Through Budget 2022, $18.1 million was invested in Action Research on Chronic Homelessness through 2024-25. Results will enable learning and knowledge-sharing across Canada.

• Veteran Homelessness Program: The Services and Supports Stream provides up to $72.9 million in funding for rent supplements and wrap-around services and the Capacity Building Stream provides up to $6.2 million in funding to support research on Veteran homelessness and capacity building. Projects are now underway and the department is receiving and reviewing results data from recipients.

• Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative: Budget 2024 announced $250 million over two years through 2025-26 to address the urgent issue of unsheltered homelessness. Cost-matched funding agreements have been signed with eight provinces, the three territories, as well as with municipalities in Ontario and Saskatchewan.

• Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund: As part of the Budget 2024 investment in Reaching Home, $50 million is allocated to help communities develop innovative projects to prevent homelessness and accelerate new homes for people experiencing homelessness. The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness will distribute funds to communities and has launched its first call for proposals.

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