The British Columbia government is expanding supports for former youth in care as part of a cross-government approach to target the root causes of homelessness.
Several cabinet ministers gathered for a news conference to share details of $633 million first announced in Budget 2022 for supports over three years for people experiencing homelessness.
Mitzi Dean, minister of children and family development, says $35 million over three years will help former youth in care, almost half of whom experience homelessness at some point in their lives.
It will help cover an unconditional one-year income supplement of $1,250 per month that Dean says will not be limited by earnings, so youth have an incentive to work and build independence.
The young adults will also be eligible for a $600-a-month rental supplement and increased access to counselling, medical benefits and life-skills programming.
Other funds to help the homeless outlined by the ministers include $164 million to expand the government’s complex-care housing program and $264 million for a permanent housing plan to support about 3,000 people who were temporarily housed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Get breaking National news
“This is the first time the province has created a comprehensive cross-government approach to supporting youth in and from care,” Dean says.
- NDP to join Bloc in backing Liberals against non-confidence vote
- Ethics commissioner will not investigate Boissonnault over ‘Randy’ texts, says the matter is closed
- Macron and Trudeau will meet in Canada next week. What’s on the agenda?
- N.B. election: Higgs went to ‘very dark place’ with Liberal joke, opponent says
Comments