Question Period Note: HOMELESS VETERANS

HOMELESS VETERANS

• Veteran homelessness in Canada is unacceptable. Veterans deserve a safe and affordable place to live. One homeless Veteran is one too many.

• We are taking a whole-of-government approach to prevent and end Veteran homelessness through initiatives under the National Housing Strategy and Veterans Affairs Canada supports, like the Veterans Emergency Fund, and the Veteran Family and Well-being Fund.

• Veterans Affairs Canada is working closely with the federal co-leads for homelessness and affordable housing – Employment and Social Development Canada, and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation – to address Veterans homelessness.

BACKGROUND – HOMELESS VETERANS

How many homeless Veterans are there?
Employment and Social Development Canada’s National Shelter Study and Point in Time counts in 2016 and 2018, indicate that between 1.8% (about 2.400) and 4.4% of the homeless in Canada were Veterans. In its report, the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs estimated “homelessness likely affects between 3,000 and 5,000 Veterans.” COVID-19 delayed Point-in-Time counts, but they are resuming in 2021.

Veterans Affairs Canada’s Approach to Homelessness
The Department works with local community partners to: Identify homeless and in-crisis Veterans, find suitable housing, and make connections to other Veterans Affairs Canada programs and services. All Veterans Affairs Canada Area Offices have a Point-of-Contact identified to work with homeless Veterans and local organizations. VAC also collaborates with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Employment and Social Development Canada to address Veterans housing needs and homelessness.

Since 2018, Veterans Affairs Canada has implemented:
• Veterans Organization Emergency Support Fund - $20 million one-time emergency funding for Veterans organizations to offset the effects of COVID-19. This included support for organizations that assist homeless Veterans.
• Veterans and Family Well-Being Fund - Funded eighteen projects (18) dedicated to supporting homeless or in crisis Veterans. This is nearly 30% of all projects funded.
• Veterans Emergency Fund (VEF) - Provides emergency financial support to Veterans, their families and survivors at risk due to an urgent and unexpected situation.
• In November 2020, the Ontario Provincial Police, Royal Canadian Legion RCL Ontario Command, Toronto Police Service and VAC relaunched, “Operation Leave the Streets Behind” to improve police interactions with homeless Veterans.

None