Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs

Comité permanent des anciens combattants

For immediate release

Ottawa, May 01, 2019 -

Today, Neil Ellis, Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, presented a report entitled Moving Towards Ending Homelessness Among Veterans.

"With statistics showing between 3,000 and 5,000 veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Canada," said Mr. Ellis, "this is a problem that can be solved. The homelessness of veterans in Canada is a phenomenon that can be eliminated, one veteran at a time." This is the key recommendation of this report.

One of the findings of the report is that the profile of veterans who are homeless in Canada is extremely diverse and that it is impossible to establish one comprehensive model that would adequately adapt to their needs. We need a solution that allows them to be cared for individually in their community and that involves housing stability, before addressing any other issues that may have contributed to this person slipping into the spiral leading to homelessness.

The report also points out that veterans have been identified as a population at risk under the National Housing Strategy. This provides an unparalleled funding leverage to consider national coordination of initiatives to end homelessness among veterans. Veterans Affairs Canada has a key role to play in this strategy as a bridge between local organizations and the federal programs best suited to their needs. Committee members are therefore looking forward to the launch of the department’s strategy to address homelessness.

The members also wished to commend the efforts of community-based organizations whose expertise and national reach have already produced remarkable results in addressing homelessness among veterans. VETS Canada has contributed more than any other organization to national awareness of the phenomenon. For its part, the Royal Canadian Legion, through its capillary presence across Canada, is simply irreplaceable as an intermediary for translating national objectives locally.

During this study, members of the Committee were able to see to what extent, in each community, citizens from all walks of life are ready to mobilize for this cause. The conditions are therefore right for the Government of Canada, in collaboration with the provinces, territories, municipalities, community organizations, the private sector and the willingness of all Canadians, to make homelessness among veterans a thing of the past.

The report is available online on the Committee's website.