Veterans’ House Canada and local organizations like Fredericton Homeless Shelters are working to support homeless veterans across Canada, using a “housing first” approach. This method helps veterans find stable housing first, then provides access to mental health services, addiction support, and job assistance. For example, in Ottawa, Veterans’ House helped a man living in a car by quickly verifying his service record and securing him housing within a week. Fredericton’s Emmanuel Okafor, a veteran community navigator, is helping veterans like one who faced delays in receiving benefits due to an error with his application.
Veterans’ House Canada is expanding its supportive housing efforts, with one building open in Ottawa and another under construction in Edmonton. They are also exploring a potential location in Halifax, though no facility currently exists in Atlantic Canada. Fredericton Homeless Shelters has seen an increase in homeless veterans, growing from 10 in 2022 to 32 so far this year. Okafor’s role is to bridge the gap between veterans and the support available to them, often connecting them to Veterans Affairs Canada.
Veterans face unique challenges when transitioning to civilian life, and some, affected by mental health or other issues, may fall into homelessness. Okafor emphasizes the importance of ensuring veterans receive the care and support they deserve.
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