April 4, 2020 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada

The health and safety of all Canadians is the top priority for the Government of Canada, especially the uniquely vulnerable. That is why the Government is making investments in those who are most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic—those experiencing homelessness and women fleeing gender-based violence.

The Government of Canada is reconfirming its immediate investment of $207.5 million to support these organizations to meet the real and increasing needs they are facing

This funding will be provided in the following ways:

$157.5 million to address the needs of Canadians experiencing homelessness through the Reaching Home program. The funding could be used for a variety of needs such as purchasing beds and physical barriers for social distancing and securing accommodation to reduce overcrowding in shelters.

$40 million to be given to Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), up to $30 million of which will address immediate needs of shelters and sexual assault centres as follows: Up to $26 million to Women’s Shelters Canada to distribute to approximately 575 violence against women shelters across the country; and Up to $4 million to the Canadian Women’s Foundation to distribute the funding to sexual assault centres across the country.



WAGE is also working with the Government of Quebec on the implementation of this important initiative to support women’s shelters and sexual assault centres in Quebec.

$10 million to be provided to Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC) existing network of 46 emergency shelters on reserve and in Yukon to support Indigenous women and children fleeing violence. ­ These new funds will flow directly to shelters and will provide them with additional operational funding to manage or prevent an outbreak in their facilities. ­ The operational funding will be delivered through ISC’s Family Violence Prevention Program. The amount for each shelter will be determined based on factors such as on-reserve population, remoteness, and number of beds.



The Government of Canada remains fully committed to supporting those who are most vulnerable, and all Canadians, during this global pandemic. The Government will continue to carefully consider any additional steps it can take to do just that.