Ontario Construction News staff writer
The County of Simcoe, along with the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH), has introduced a fresh initiative designed to tackle veteran homelessness in the area. This program is supported by $465,000 in federal funding for the upcoming year.
The Veterans First initiative is financed through the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund (HRIF), which is a $45-million federal effort managed by CAEH as part of Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.
“The Veterans First program is built around a clear, achievable goal: make veteran homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring in Simcoe County,” said Tim Richter, CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH).
This program will offer veterans tailored support via a team of intensive case managers, a landlord liaison to enhance housing access, flexible funding aimed at overcoming housing barriers, and improved use of by-name data to monitor outcomes and boost housing placement.
Veterans will also benefit from trauma-informed care, help with accessing benefits, and connections to both community resources and veteran-specific supports. Case managers will create customized service plans that focus on stability in housing, life skills development, physical and mental health support, income security, and social inclusion.
“Veterans make significant sacrifices to serve Canada and deserve access to safe and stable housing,” Federal Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson said in a statement. “When Canadians answer the call to serve, they make extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country.
“The Veterans First initiative demonstrates what is possible when communities, organizations and governments work together to support veterans.”
The initiative was launched at Canadian Forces Base Borden where base commander Col. Melissa Ramessar expressed pride in supporting veterans as they transition into civilian life.
The Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund was unveiled in the 2024 federal budget and backs community-led projects aimed at achieving measurable reductions in homelessness throughout Canada.
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