Backgrounder: Homelessness Partnering Strategy

Homelessness Partnering Strategy

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) is a unique community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing direct support and funding to 61 Designated Communities in all provinces and territories.

The HPS supports community efforts and allocates funds accordingly, which provides communities with the flexibility to invest in proven approaches that reduce homelessness at the local level. HPS funds are targeted directly toward community priorities which have been identified through an inclusive community planning process, involving officials from all levels of government, community stakeholders, and the private and voluntary sectors. The objectives of the HPS are achieved through several funding streams.

Regional Funding Streams

The majority of HPS funding is delivered regionally through three funding streams:

• Designated Communities;
• Rural and Remote Homelessness (non-Designated Communities); and
• Aboriginal Homelessness.

These streams focus on the needs of homeless individuals and individuals at imminent risk of homelessness in the community, and provide funding to help individuals gain and maintain a stable living arrangement.

National projects

The national funding streams help to develop a better understanding of homelessness based on local data collection, and make surplus federal real properties available to organizations that plan to use the facilities to address homelessness.

• Innovative Solutions to Homelessness
• National Homelessness Information System; and
• Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative.

Innovative Solutions to Homelessness

The Innovative Solutions to Homelessness is one of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy funding streams. This funding stream can be used to support community-based innovative projects to reduce homelessness and its cost; build strategic partnerships with key stakeholders; and, test and/or share new tools, provide training and technical assistance, develop social metrics, and analyze research findings geared towards homelessness.

In 2016, a call for proposals was launched to identify 1) large-scale pilot projects (between $25,000 and $500,000) and 2) small-scale experimental projects or prototypes (up to $25,000) to create and/or evaluate concrete and potentially ground-breaking practices, establish strategic partnerships, develop innovative tools and best practices or initiatives that individuals, organizations, or communities can use to prevent or reduce homelessness.