Advocate says homeless crisis is long-standing, affects more Canadians than reported
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on brandonsun.com
- Read the Brandon Sun E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
*Your next Free Press subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
OTTAWA – Advocates are welcoming news that the federal government plans to end homelessness within 10 years — a crisis they say has been decades in the making.
This week’s federal budget estimated about 65,000 Canadians are homeless, but Tim Richter of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness thinks the true figure could be much higher.
Richter says the current housing crisis stems from the 1990s, when the federal government stopped funding social housing.
He said the problem has exploded since 2018 because of higher rents, a higher cost of living and a toxic drug crisis, adding to increases during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government has pledged $11.2 billion over the next four years to address homelessness, including money for transitional and permanent housing and integrated social supports for things like mental health and addiction.
Richter says he hopes the 10-year federal plan will finally rally provinces and cities to tackle what the government has called “one of Canada’s most urgent social challenges.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2026.
Note to readers:This is a corrected story. An earlier version said the government pledged $11.2 million over four years.