Ontario Increasing Support for Homelessness Prevention in Peel

News April 21, 2023

PEEL — The Ontario government is investing an additional $202 million annually in the province’s
Homelessness Prevention Program and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program, bringing
Ontario’s total yearly investment in these programs to close to $700 million. The additional funding
will help those experiencing or at risk of homelessness and support community organizations
delivering supportive housing.

This includes a 38% increase to the Regional Municipality of Peel’s allocation from last year,
bringing the total investment to $42,399,100.

“Supportive housing provides people in need with a roof over their heads. It also connects them with
services that provide a hand up to improve their circumstances, including mental health support and
job training,” said Nina Tangri, Associate Minister for Housing. “Our government met with partners
and stakeholders across the province this past fall – we heard their concerns and are addressing
their valuable feedback to improve Ontario’s supportive housing system. This investment will make
a real impact to support housing providers that help vulnerable Ontarians each and every day. I am
thrilled that this investment will also help to deliver tangible results right here in Peel Region and in
my own riding of Mississauga – Streetsville.”

Peel, like all major urban centres across Ontario, faces a significant and growing need for more
affordable housing.

Demand for affordable housing in Peel exceeds availability by far and continues to grow at a rapid
pace, along with the region’s growing and aging population. As well, buying or renting a home is
unaffordable for 80% of Peel residents, and they face long waits to access affordable units.

“Tackling homelessness and the affordable housing crisis are key priorities for Peel Region and this
boost in funding for the Homelessness Prevention Program will allow us to help more people in
need. Sadly, we are currently only meeting 30% of the need here in Peel, so this kind of support
from our partners at the Government of Ontario is vital and comes at a time when it is needed more
than ever,” said Regional Chair of Peel, Nando Iannicca.

The additional funding, announced in the 2023 Budget, represents a 40 per cent increase in funding
by the government to support the most vulnerable by providing supportive housing and
homelessness prevention services. Under the $202 million, $190.5 million each year will be
allocated to the Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP), which gives Ontario’s 47 Service
Managers greater flexibility to allocate funding and make better use of existing resources to focus
on delivering supports.

The remaining $11.5 million each year will be invested in the Indigenous Supportive Housing
Program (ISHP), which provides Indigenous led, culturally appropriate long-term housing solutions
and support services to Indigenous people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

“We know Ontario’s housing supply crisis impacts all Ontarians, no matter their background or
budget,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “That’s why we’ve increased
funding for our homelessness prevention programs by more than 40 per cent. These measures
complement the bold and transformational change we are implementing to tackle the housing
supply crisis and get more homes built faster across Ontario.”

“During a time of economic challenges and change, our government is supporting those who have
fallen on hard times and are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, homelessness,” said Peter
Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “Ontario’s 2023 Budget: Building a Strong Ontario is the right plan
to support those who need it the most today while laying a strong fiscal foundation for future
generations.”

The increased funding is a result of a revised funding model that better reflects the current needs of
individuals who are facing homelessness across Ontario. Funding dollars are being increased to
address increased needs, particularly during a time of rising inflation, and to help ensure that no
service manager receives a decrease in funding compared to 2022-23 as a result of the transition to
the new model.

The changes also address the recommendation in the Auditor General’s 2021 value-for-money
audit on homelessness, which called for a better funding model for homelessness programs that
would target areas where funding is most needed.

In addition to reducing costs in other sectors, supportive housing provides people in Ontario with an
opportunity to live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. Ontario will continue to support the
most vulnerable by providing supportive housing and homelessness prevention services to help
those most in need.

QUICK FACTS

In order to access HPP funding, Service Managers must have in place a comprehensive and
up to date By-Name List of people experiencing homelessness, along with information about
their needs. This is to ensure that Service Managers have the up-to-date information they
need from individuals experiencing homelessness to help connect people the right housing
and supports as soon as they are available.

• Through the Community Housing Renewal Strategy, response to COVID-19 and
homelessness initiatives, over the past three years Ontario invested nearly $4.4 billion for
community and supportive housing while addressing homelessness and the impacts of the
pandemic for vulnerable Ontarians.

• In 2022, the government introduced the More Homes Built Faster Act, which takes bold
action to address the housing crisis by building 1.5 million homes by 2031. The plan also has
measures to reduce municipal charges for housing providers looking to build non-profit and
affordable housing for vulnerable Ontarians.