Calls on government, NGOs, and private sector to implement changes
TORONTO, May 20, 2005 – The largest gathering on homelessness in Canadian history has issued a list of key recommendations to tackle Canada’s homelessness crisis head-on.
The Canadian Conference on Homelessness’ projected five-year plan includes the following recommendations:
1. Clear blueprints for municipalities to end homelessness, with specific goals and timelines, created by collaboration between NGOs and all levels of government and issued within six months.
2. A special funding package for adequate housing, income support and support services from the federal, provincial and territorial governments.
3. Clear division of responsibilities between levels of government on issues of homelessness.
4. An independent, inter-governmental watchdog to see that these goals are met.
5. Remaining shelters in our communities be used for short-term stays only.
6. Backing from Canada’s civil society institutions (locally, regionally and nationally) to ensure that governments treat homelessness as a top priority and spend money where it is truly needed.
7. Partnership from Canada’s business community, including corporations and national lobby groups, in order to ensure that adequate resources for homelessness are allocated as a top priority.
Over the past three days, more than 800 participants -- including researchers, policy makers, service providers, activists and people who are homeless -- have gathered to discuss what the best research in Canada has to say about homelessness.
The conference was planned and developed in consultation with homeless people, and provided subsidies allowing them to attend and make presentations.
Sessions explored issues surrounding housing, employment, education, mental and physical health, and diversity. Topics addressed by speakers included: making the connection between research, policy and practice; housing and homelessness; risk factors and behaviours, and international perspectives on homelessness.
Funding for the Canadian Conference on Homelessness has been provided under the Government of Canada’s National Homelessness Initiative (NHI) and by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation).
Additional support for the conference has been supplied by Wellesley Central Health Corporation, which provided seed money to support the development of the conference plan. The Ontario Mental Health Foundation and the Canadian Federation of Municipalities have both sponsored plenary sessions, and additional funding has been provided by KAIROS.
FOR MORE INFO: Stephen Gaetz, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education;
Chair, Conference Organizing Committee
416-736-2100 x20050 / sgaetz@edu.yorku.ca
MEDIA CONTACT: Melissa Hughes, Media Relations, York University
416-736-2100 x22097 / mehughes@yorku.ca
