Prince Edward Island Cities Receive Support To Help Those Who Are Homeless

Prince Edward Island Cities Receive Support To Help Those Who Are Homeless

Date: April 02 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND - The Homeless Steering Committee of Prince Edward Island today announced the approval of five projects to help homeless individuals and families in Charlottetown and Summerside. Lawrence MacAulay, Solicitor General of Canada and Member of Parliament for Cardigan, on behalf of the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour and Federal Co-ordinator on Homelessness, made the announcement of $931,000 in funding under the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI) of the National Homelessness Initiative. This funding will help to alleviate homelessness in the two island cities.

"The projects announced today will enable the cities of Charlottetown and Summerside to enhance the supports available to those in need in our communities," said Minister MacAulay. "This is an excellent example of the Government of Canada's commitment to working with our partners to find new and effective ways to help alleviate the pressures of homelessness."

The Government of Canada's contribution will enable the Homeless Steering Committee of PEI to address the needs and provide the necessary supports to those who are homeless in the two cities. Three projects totalling $558,600 were approved for Charlottetown:

• Harvest House Ministries will receive $189,200 to provide additional beds for female youth and adults and also to set up a drop-in centre;
• Bedford MacDonald Trust will receive $176,000 to provide emergency bed space for up to 18 male and female adults who may be homeless or transient;
• The Native Council of PEI will receive $193,400 to provide more beds for an emergency homeless shelter for Aboriginal women.

In addition, two projects totalling $372,400 were approved for Summerside:

• Harvest House Ministries will receive $134,661 to increase transitional housing space available for homeless males;
• The Prince County Family Services Bureau will receive $237,739 to provide emergency/transitional accommodations for single mothers.

"On behalf of the PEI Advisory Committee on Homelessness, we are delighted that after many months of research, analysis, call for proposals and reviews, we have finally arrived at a point where funds will be released to address the needs of the homeless on PEI," said George Wawin, chairperson of the committee. "The community, many levels of government, and various professionals have worked long and hard to address the needs of the homeless population. With funds now available, we will finally have some of the bricks and mortar necessary to make a difference in addressing this very complex societal issue."

The SCPI enables communities to bring together various partners to develop local solutions to their particular homelessness needs and issues. The $305 million SCPI is a key component of the Government of Canada's $753 million National Homelessness Initiative. Through the SCPI, communities in PEI will receive over $931,000 to help address and alleviate homelessness.

The National Homelessness Initiative is making a difference in addressing this issue by encouraging the development of local solutions to homelessness. Funding for the Initiative was provided for in the December 2001 federal Budget and is built into the existing fiscal framework.

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