Homelessness is a complex issue that affects people and communities across BC. That’s why we are investing $633 million in comprehensive new initiatives to help address homelessness.

Here’s what we’re doing:

✔️Introducing a change to our shelter allowance to provide a new minimum base rate and funding tenant start-up kits to assist people moving from homelessness into more stable housing. We're also implementing $600-per-month rent supplements with integrated health and social supports that will help more than 3,000 people with low incomes access housing in the private market over the next three years. 

✔️ Investing $35 million over three years for new and increased supports for youth in care until the age of 27. This includes a new financial supplement, a no-limit earnings exemption, help with the cost of housing, and other needed education and social supports. Youth in government care are overrepresented in our homeless population and like all young people, these youth need supports for a successful transition into adulthood, even after they turn 19.

✔️ Investing $164 million over three years to expand government’s complex-care housing program to better support people with complex health, mental health, and substance-use challenges. This will provide housing and more intensive care for those who may need a level of support that goes beyond what the current model of supportive housing can provide.
 
✔️ Providing long-term solutions by allocating $264 million over three years for a permanent housing plan to ensure the approximately 3,000 people who were temporarily housed during the pandemic do not return to homelessness.

Since 2017, we've moved thousands of unhoused people into homes with the supports they need. But we know there is much more work to do make up for the years of inaction and underfunding of the old government. Budget 2022’s investments will go a long way to combat the growing homelessness we are seeing across B.C.

Sincerely,