About Homelessness

Homelessness Partnering Strategy

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) aims to prevent and reduce homelessness across Canada. It does so by developing partnerships that contribute to a sustainable and comprehensive continuum of supports to help those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness move towards self sufficiency. It mobilizes partners at the federal-provincial/territorial and community levels to address barriers to well-being faced by homeless individuals and those at risk.

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) funds activities that contribute to its objectives, while reflecting local realities. Projects must focus on activities that help ensure people who are homeless and/or at risk of becoming homeless are able to stabilize their living arrangements and circumstances and move beyond emergency needs. A strong emphasis is placed on supporting the coordinated delivery of services to prevent and break the cycle of homelessness and on establishing sustainable, longer-term solutions. Federal funds are targeted, but not limited to services that support employment readiness, transitional and supportive housing and related services to help homeless individuals gain and maintain stable living arrangements.

The Region of Peel has been allocated $2.8 million in HPS funding for the period of April 2011- March 2014.

Eligible Activities
Below are the key activities eligible for funding under the Homelessness Partnering Strategy:

1. Capital Investments (e.g., pre-development, purchase, construction, renovation and purchase of appliances and furniture)

• emergency shelter facilities
• transitional housing facilities
• supportive housing facilities
• non-residential facilities

2. Client Services

Activities may include:

• assistance to address basic needs such as shelter and food services
  
• individual support services and other case-managed support services (including referrals to treatment or health services)
  
• assistance with housing placement and housing retention e.g. services to transition people out of homelessness, or help those at imminent risk of homelessness to remain housed
  
• bridging to existing employment programs or removing barriers to employment or skill enrichment to facilitate labour market readiness

3. Community Coordination, Partnership Development and Data Management

Activities may include:

• coordination of community consultation; community planning; and needs assessment
  
• local research and information collection and sharing (specific to the particular community)
  
• partnership and network development; and coordination of service provision
  
• emergency shelter usage data collection activities; data development; data coordination activities; and reporting on, for example, progress against Community Performance Indicators, once developed and implemented.

Projects funded must address one or more priorities identified in the community plan.

Community Plan Priorities 2011-2014*

1. Coordinate initiatives to connect individuals at risk and/or experiencing homelessness to basic needs, food, information and resources.
2. Share information about the issues, causes and impacts of homelessness with stakeholders, service providers and the larger community in Peel to foster collaborative opportunities for effective solutions to prevent and reduce homelessness.
3. Provide individuals who are experiencing and/or facing homelessness with accessible, available transitional/ supportive housing.
4. Ensure that there is capacity to meet the needs of individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness for food and supplementary supports.
5. Coordinate a seamless continuum of accessible and available programs and services which are inclusive of the diverse needs of the individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
6. Enhance the availability of and access to service provision and supports which meet and accommodate holistic health needs of individuals who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness at emergency shelters, transitional housing or within the community.
7. Provide homeless and at-risk individuals with educational supports and skill development to assist with self sufficiency.
8. Coordinate the collection and use of data for reporting and identifying applicable measures and outcomes to address the specific root causes of homelessness unique to Peel.

* Priorities are pending the approval of the Minister