The federal government is investing almost $3 million in the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo, including Indigenous and urban communities, in 2024-25 to help support programs addressing homelessness issues. The funding will be delivered through the federal Reaching Home program, which helps individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness in accessing or sustaining safe, stable, and affordable housing.
“Homelessness impacts every community across Canada, and there is no single cause or blanket solution,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of Energy and Natural Resources, on behalf of Sean Fraser, minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities. “That is why we are investing in community-led projects in Nanaimo, Cowichan, and Duncan. By working closely with provincial partners and supporting grassroots networks, we can continue building on local solutions and making sure all Canadians have paths to safe and stable housing.”
Since 2019, the Reaching Home program has helped 472 individuals in the Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo find more stable housing, and more than 1,300 to maintain their current housing. More than 65 per cent of people who accessed services funded by Reaching Home remained housed or successfully exited the program. A further 97 per cent of individuals who accessed programs remained housed three months after receiving prevention services.
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