The County of Simcoe and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) have launched a new initiative aimed at ending veteran homelessness in the region, providing targeted support to veterans struggling to find and maintain stable housing.
The program, called Veterans First, is backed by $465,000 in federal funding over the next year through the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund (HRIF). The fund is part of the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy and is administered by the CAEH.
The initiative will focus on helping Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP veterans experiencing homelessness secure permanent housing and access the supports needed to remain housed long term.
Under the program, veterans will work with a dedicated team of Intensive Case Managers who will provide individualized support tailored to each person’s needs. A Landlord Liaison will also help expand access to housing opportunities, while flexible funding will be available to address barriers that may prevent veterans from obtaining stable housing.
The program will also use enhanced Quality By-Name Data to track outcomes and ensure veterans can be connected to housing and support services as quickly as possible.
Participants will have access to trauma-informed care, benefits navigation and community-based supports. Personalized service plans will focus on housing stability, life skills development, health and mental health outcomes, income stability, social inclusion and connections to veteran-specific resources.
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Federal Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson said the funding will help connect veterans in Simcoe County with care and resources tailored to their unique experiences, helping them find a safe and stable place to call home.
Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight said the initiative demonstrates what can be achieved when governments, organizations and communities work together to support those who have served Canada.
County of Simcoe Warden Basil Clarke welcomed the launch, saying veterans have earned the support through their service to the country.
“These brave men and women put their communities and their country first,” Clarke said. “Now it is our responsibility to stand with them.”
The Veterans First program will operate over the next 12 months with the goal of helping veterans transition out of homelessness and achieve long-term housing stability.
