For Immediate Release
OTTAWA, March 22, 2013- The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is pleased with the housing first initiative and a renewal of support for affordable housing in Budget 2013.
The Housing First approach and investment of $119 million per year over five years to the Homelessness Partnering Strategy as well as renewed commitment of $253 million per year over five years to work with provinces and territories to help Canadians in need find and keep affordable housing is extremely welcome. Providing $100 million over two years to support the construction of housing in Nunavut is also a commitment that CASW fully supports.
“The federal government’s commitment to the Housing First approach and renewal of affordable housing agreement with the provinces and territories demonstrates the national leadership required to address homelessness in Canada” stated CASW President, Morel Caissie. “Our expectation is that the affordable housing commitments made in Budget 2013 will open the door to the federal government to come back to the table with the provinces and territories to help attain adequacy and accountability in all transfers that support the health and social well being of Canadians.”
Budget 2013 takes steps towards a comprehensive national affordable housing strategy and our expectation is the commitments made in Budget 2013 will be complimented with deeper investments by the Canadians Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The announcement of moving forward with a Housing First model follows the recommendations in Canada’s Mental Health strategy and is a holistic model of service delivery that is fully supported by CASW.
“With Housing First the door has been opened for the federal government to come back to the table with the provinces and territories to provide national leadership in developing accountability to the billions transferred to the provinces and territories through the social and health transfers” notes Caissie. “Social workers welcome this leadership and support the defence of our social programs for a stronger Canada.”
CASW will provide a more detailed analysis of Budget 2013 in the coming weeks. Noticeably absent from this budget was a broad and strategic commitment of the federal government to building a more socially just and environmentally sustainable society, including a stronger commitment to seniors and measures that directly addressing the overall growing inequality gap in Canada.
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For more information:
Fred Phelps, MSW, RSW
casw@casw-acts.ca
Tel.: 613.729.6668