$31M federal initiative to help homeless
Funds will provide 240 housing units
A $31-million gift from the federal government will help fund 240 housing units for homeless Calgarians as part of the Housing First initiative, which aims to provide housing before offering resources to address underlying issues.
“Before a homeless person or family can address the issues or complexities that contributed to their current state of being homeless — whether that be mental health issues, addictions, family violence, job loss, lack of education or lack of job preparedness, family dysfunction, non-affordable housing, whatever it is — they must first have their basic human needs met, a place to call home, clean clothing to wear and healthy food to eat,” said Diana Krecsy, CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation. Krecsy added that the money is a “loud and clear message” from the federal government that, “yes, homelessness is our problem and yes, there’s something we can do about it.”
The funding, which will go toward Housing First and aboriginal homelessness initiatives over five years, was announced Wednesday by Calgary-Centre MP Joan Crockatt.
Crockatt said homelessness is costly to society and takes a toll on the economy, social services, emergency housing, hospitalization, shelters, prisons and other crisis services.
She said the Housing First approach is not only an effective way to end homelessness, but it also saves the government money, adding every $10 invested leads to an average cost saving of about $21 for taxpayers. Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson said this funding will help further efforts to get homeless Calgarians the help they need.
“Too often, those that were suffering from undiagnosed mental illnesses and addictions wound up falling into the basket of the justice system,” Hanson said.
“What they really needed was treatment, a housing-first model, an opportunity to be given their lives back. This gift will make a huge difference.”