Government of Canada Takes Action to Address Homelessness in the Longueuil Region

March 14, 2017 Longueuil, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada

The Government of Canada is providing additional funding to help prevent and reduce homelessness in the Longueuil region. Sherry Romanado, Member of Parliament for Longueuil–Charles–LeMoyne, today announced increased funding to three projects on behalf of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

Accommodation L’Entre-Deux de Longueuil has been granted $66,000 in supplemental funding for its project to provide emergency shelter and support services for about 100 women who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

Hébergement La Casa Bernard Hubert has received an additional $117,000 in financial assistance to help those who are chronically or episodically homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. The project will help support the employability, rehabilitation and social integration of clients in the St-Hubert area.

Abri de la Rive-Sud has been awarded $200,000 in supplemental funding to continue participating in the development and implementation of a homelessness reduction strategy along with six other community groups. The goal is to help up to 1,280 men experiencing chronic or episodic homelessness to move from the street or emergency shelters to stable housing. In addition, the agency will acquire a building in Longueuil to relocate its two emergency shelters to a single location and build 30 new transitional housing units.

These projects were supported by the Centres intégrés de la santé et des services sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre.

Quick Facts

In Budget 2016, the Government of Canada announced an additional $111.8 million over two years, starting in 2016–2017, for the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS). This builds on the program’s existing five-year investment of nearly $600 million over five years (2014−2019).
Since the launch of the HPS, nearly 35,000 Canadians who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless have benefitted from education and training opportunities; over 34,000 have received help to find work; more than 6,000 new shelter beds have been created; and the program has helped place over 82,000 people in more stable housing.
In Quebec, the HPS is administered through a formal Canada–Quebec agreement that respects the jurisdiction and priorities of both governments in addressing homelessness.

Quotes

The Government of Canada recognizes the pressing need to prevent and reduce homelessness in Canada. Investing in Canada’s communities is not only about creating good jobs and encouraging economic growth. It is also about building stronger communities and empowering all Canadians to build better lives for themselves.

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

This additional funding we are announcing today to three organizations in my riding reaffirms our government’s commitment to fighting homelessness. This is one more step in our efforts to provide support and assistance to those who need it most in Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne.

Sherry Romanado, Member of Parliament for Longueuil–Charles–LeMoyne

Hébergement L’Entre-Deux is an alternative mental health resource whose mission is to provide assistance to women suffering from depression who are in need of therapeutic support. The SPLI program helps fund post-shelter follow-up services to help these women maintain the progress they have achieved, thereby reducing the risk of relapse and homelessness. We are proud to announce the expansion of these services thanks to this new funding we have received through the SPLI program.

Mélanie Bourque, Director General, Hébergement L’Entre-Deux

This funding will allow us to acquire a building and relocate the services we offer, which involve providing shelter to the homeless and helping them get off the streets. We will thereby be in a position to give them more and better services in a building suited to their needs, in an environment that reflects our values of dignity, safety and unconditional acceptance. Thanks to this project, we will also be able to accommodate 10 more people per day, which will enable us to better meet the real demand for these services.

Lucie Latulippe, Director General, Abri de la Rive-Sud