LIBERALS HAVE NO PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS

OTTAWA – On the anniversary of the defeat of her Private Members Motion M-147, NDP Housing Critic Sheri Benson (Saskatoon West) rose in the House of Commons to press the Liberal government to put forward a concrete plan to end homelessness in Canada.

“Communities across this country are doing great work towards ending homelessness, but they can’t do it alone. They need meaningful support from the federal government,” said Benson. “Unfortunately, the Trudeau government has offered nothing but lofty rhetoric on this issue.”

The Trudeau government says it wants to reduce the number of chronically homeless shelter users by 50% over the next ten years. Yet, current funding to address homelessness in Canada remains inadequate and accounts for only 0.05% of the National Housing Strategy.

“This Prime Minister is all talk and no action. Time is running out for this his Liberal government to commit to ending homelessness in Canada. All it takes is a plan and the political will to make it happen,” added Benson.

The NDP is calling on the Liberals to bring forward the Canada Housing Benefit and to target the support in the federal homelessness strategy, Reaching Home, to provide immediate relief for those most vulnerable in our communities.