Ontario Construction News staff writer
The County of Simcoe and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) have launched a new program aimed at ending veteran homelessness in the region, backed by $465,000 in federal funding over the next year.
The Veterans First initiative is funded through the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund (HRIF), a $45-million federal program delivered by the 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).
The program will provide veterans with individualized support through a team of intensive case managers, a landlord liaison to increase access to housing, flexible funding to remove barriers to housing, and enhanced use of by-name data to track outcomes and improve housing placement.
Veterans will also receive trauma-informed care, assistance accessing benefits, and connections to community and veteran-specific supports. Case managers will develop personalized service plans focused on housing stability, life skills, physical and mental health, 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 said the military community is proud to support veterans as they transition to civilian life.
The Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund was announced in the 2024 federal budget and supports community-led projects designed to achieve measurable reductions in homelessness across Canada.
