$10M a year for Indigenous housing to tackle homelessness
The Ford government will provide an extra $10 million a year to help give homeless Indigenous people access to support and transitional housing to keep them off the streets.
The province made the announcement Thursday on the new funding for two Indigenous agencies, calling it a step forward for people experiencing or nearing homelessness.
"My ministry led consultations in this sector on how we can improve the offering on supportive housing," said the minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark.
"Based on that feedback, we are taking an all-of-government approach to better coordinate the services that we provide today. We need to make the system work better and work smarter across the platforms."
The money will go towards supporting the culturally sensitive programs offered by Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS) and the Miziwe Biik Development Corporation.
“Government funding is crucial in boosting its program offerings around the province, but especially here in the north where Indigenous people are over represented in the local homeless population,” said OAHS director of supportive housing, Kristy Jones.
A homeless count in the Timmins area last year showed at least 80 per cent of people spoken to on the streets identified as Indigenous.
Jones said funding and collaboration with government and district social services boards are keys to lasting change on this issue.
"We recently provided 102 individuals in Timmins, who are experiencing homelessness and at risk of homelessness, with these supports," Jones said.
"Ontario Aboriginal Housing is interested in working with all municipalities and services boards across the north to see how we can partner together on Indigenous-led solutions."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.
Closing arguments heard in trial for Sask. dad accused of abducting daughter
Closing arguments were heard Thursday morning in the case of Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter in 2021 to keep her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.